By Rick Woelfel
WEST GOSHEN—St Joseph’s Prep got its hockey season off to a fast start on Wednesday. The Hawks built a 3-0 second-period lead and went on to hold off Malvern Prep 4-3 in an Atlantic Prep Athletic Conference game at Ice Line.
Austin Amato, Jeffrey Hammond, Jimmy Craig, and Nick Storti all scored goals for the Hawks, who were Class AAA Flyers Cup finalists a year ago.
Stori scored what proved to be the game winner with 9:38 gone in the second period when he dumped a puck in from the left point that eluded Friar goaltender Anthony Perti.
The Hawks started building their lead when Amato scored off a turnover at the 8:09 mark of the first period, and continued when Hammond (on a power play) and Craig added goals 11 seconds apart to give The Prep a 3-0 lead.
Storti, who would be heard from later on, said the quick start was invaluable. “It was really important to get a jump on these guys,” he said. “They’re really good.”
Andrew Harder got Malvern Prep (0-1) on the scoreboard at the 6:29 mark of the period and it took just 11 seconds for his teammate Ryan Sambuco to make it a one-goal game after a burst up the center of the ice.
Storti’s effort gave his team a two-goal advantage. “I just wanted to dump it in and it kind of went in on him,” he said.”
Down by two goals heading into the third period Malvern Prep, which was playing its first game for new coach Bill Keenan, kept battling to the final buzzer.
Stori and his teammates did their part by keeping the pressure on their opponents. “It was important to get pucks deep and keep them out of our zone as much as possible,” he said. “Work the puck down low a lot.”
Harrison Campbell scored the the day’s last goal with 54 seconds remaining but in the end the his came up one goal short.
Keenan was officially named Malvern Prep’s head coach on Wednesday, replacing Dave Dorman who resigned at the end of last week.
“I thought we got off to a pretty slow start,” he said. “I think we collectively came together in the second period. When we got that first goal we started to gather it together and just came out in the third and worked hard.”
The Friars had a 29-19 edge in shots. Hawks’ netminder Rocco Bruno recorded 26 saves.
St. Joseph’s Prep 1 3 0—4
Malvern Prep 0 2 1—3
First-period goal: Austin Amato (SJP) unassisted, 8:09
Second-period goals: Jeffrey Hammond (SJP) from Nick Storti and Andrew Centrella, 2:11 (pp); Jimmy Craig (SJP) from Matthew Moresco, 2:22; Andrew Harder (MP) from Matthew Harris and Ryan Sambuco, 6:14; Sambuco (MP) unassisted, 6:29; Storti (SJP) unassisted, 9:38
Third-period goal: Harrison Campbell (MP) from Chris Blango, 15:06
Shots: St. Joseph’s Prep 19, Malvern Prep 29; Saves: Rocco Bruno (SJP) 26, Anthony Perti (MP) 15
Records: St. Joseph’s Prep (1-0, 1-0 APAC); Malvern Prep (0-1, 0-1)
Hockey Happenings 