HATFIELD— It took Pennsbury and Pennridge some time to hit their stride Thursday night. For two periods plus the Falcons and the Rams delivered a performance that seemed to offer little in the way of emotional energy.
The pace picked up down the stretch and it was Pennridge that came out on top. Aidan Boyle’s goal with 2:12 left in regulation gave the Rams a 3-2 win in a game that both teams needed strengthen their position the Suburban High School Hockey League’s Class AA standings and their credibility with the committee that will select sand seed the Flyers Cup field in a little over two week’s time.
“We just kept telling them ‘Get it to the third period with a chance to win,’” said Pernnridge coach Jeff Montagna,”
Just one goal was scored over the first two periods. It came off the stick of Pennsbury’s Brendan MacAinish 9:16 into the first frame. Ryan Schuler tied the game for the Rams (9-6, 6-5 in divisional play) 3:36 in to the finals period but Reece Millman’s shot from the edge of the right faceoff circle put the Falcons (8-5-1, 4-5-1) back in front at the 6:58 mark.
When Arek Lehrhaupt scored for the Rams at 10:06 it set the stage for a big finish. Boyle’s game winner came on a shot from the right circle that got past Falcon netminder Topher Seiler.
Seiler and Ryan Pico, his Pennridge counterpart, were both sharp, making 62 saves between them.
The Rams came into the game without Blake Stewart who was injured, and lost Richie Shanks in the second period. But they kept battling.
“They just kept fighting and scrapping,” Montagna said of his troops. “I’m just so proud of them, so proud of the way then did that down the stretch. We were down to seven forwards. It was a great win.”
The loss was the third straight for the Falcons. “Their goalie had an outstanding game,” said Pennsbury coach Ryan Daley. We could have had more goals, that’s for sure. I think that kind of got to us in the stretch there. You’re masking good plays and working hard and we weren’t getting rewarded for any of it.”
Daley was quick to point out the loss was no fault of Seiler’s who kept his team in the game in the third period. “It’s a shame our last three games have (losses) next to them,” he said. “He’s played outstanding in all three of them.”
Pennsbury 1 0 1—2
Pennridge 0 0 3—3
First-period goal: Brendan MacAinish (Pb) from Shane Siegmond and Beau
Third-period goal: Ryan Schuler (Pr) from Conrad Frisch, 3:36; Reece Millman (Pb) unassisted, 6:58; Arek Lehrhaupt (Pr) from Jeff Manto and Jack Lowery, 10:06; Aidan Boyle (Pr) from Cooper White, 13:48.
Shots: Pennsbury 35, Pennridge 32; Saves: Topher Seiler (Pb) 29, Ryan Pico (Pr) 33
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