1-17-18
It was a hockey game that lived up to expectations. Central Bucks South rallied from a 3-1 second-period deficit to down Pennridge 8-6 Wednesday at Revolution Ice Gardens in the only regular-season matchup of the two premier teams in the Suburban High School Hockey League’s Class 2A Division, one that pitted Pennridge coach Tom Coyne against the team he led to two Flyers Cup and state championships.
The Titans scored five straight goals to break the game open and record their 11th victory in 12 starts this season (6-0 in the division).
Matt Stoll delivered a hat trick and added an assist to highlight the winners’ Senior Night.
“It was pretty weird,” Stoll said, “I’m not going to lie. It was pretty different being on the ice against Tom Coyne. Certainly a lot of emotion. I’m just glad we got the win.”
The Rams (9-2, 5-1) came out sharp and scored the only goal of the first period when Eric Slater beat Tim White from long range from the left wing just 1:26 after the opening faceoff. Michael Walker made it a 2-0 game 6:3 into the second period before Frank Carter got the Titans on the board with a rocket from the high slot during a power play at the 8:13 mark. When Dylan Lowery responded for Pennridge 62 seconds later the Rams had a 3-1 lead prompting South coach Shaun McGinty to use his time out.
“I’m not a big time out fan,” he said. “I like to keep momentum going … I don’t like holding the game up. But it was needed.”
The Titans responded by getting a goal from James Schuller and two from Stoll, all in a span of 2 minutes, 33 seconds to take a 4-3 lead.
C.B. South’s Tim White makes a save against Pennridge Wednesday night as teammate Joe DeLaurentis and the Rams’ Michael Walker close in
(Photo by Dara Nappen King)
It was still a one-goal game entering the third period but Ryan Gingras scored for South at the 1:47 mark before Stoll completed his hat trick with a shorthanded effort at 4:12 and essentially settled the issue, although Walker scored the last two goals of the game for Pennridge to claim a hat trick of his own.
“We got a little bit away from what we really started out doing,” Coyne said. “I thought we were really effective in the first period but then again we were fresher in the first period.
I just grounded 10 guys into the ground tonight. I just thought we could give them our best punch. We got away, we got caught running around.”
The Titans kept their shifts short, which Stoll said worked to their advantage. “It helped a lot that we were all on the same page,” he said. We all got off at a decent time and kept fresh legs on the ice. That really helped.”
The Titans enjoyed a 41-29 edge in shots … Ten South seniors were recognized prior to game time.
Pennridge 1 2 3—6
C.B. South 0 4 4—8
First-period goal: Eric Slater (P) unassisted, 1:24.
Second-period goals: Michael Walker (P) unassisted, 6:23; Frank Carter (CBS) from Joe DeLaurentis and Matt Stoll, 8:13 (pp); Dylan Lowery (P) unassisted, 9:15; James Schuler (CBS) from Jake Parlow, 9:44; Stoll (CBS) from Reis Braccio and DeLaurentis, 9:59; Stoll (CBS) from DeLaurentis, 12:17.
Third-period goals: Ryan Gingras (CBS) from Braccio and DeLaurentis, 1:47; Stoll (CBS) from DeLaurentis, 4:12 (sh); Slater (P) unassisted, 5:23; Drew Kirilorf (CBS) from Colin Abbonizio and Schuler, 6:10; Matt Milanesi (CBS) from Dominick Pattrone and Abbonizio, 11:06; Walker (P) from Patrick McGinley, 14:28; Walker (P) from Slater, 15:58.
Shots: Pennridge 29, C.B. South 41; Saves: Luke Stranik (P) 33, Tom White (CBS) 23.
Records: Pennridge (9-2, 5-1 in SHSHL Class 2A Division); Central Bucks South (11-1 6-0)
Our thanks to the administration at Holy Ghost Prep for their support.
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