BRISTOL—The La Salle Express is getting up a full head of steam. Max Maddalo scored two goals and assisted on another as the Explorers scored a 5-1 decision over Holy Ghost Prep Monday afternoon in an Atlantic Prep Athletic Conference game at Grundy Arena.
The win boosts La Salle to 6-6 overall and 3-2-0-1 in the APAC. While the Explorers could theoretically tie Malvern Prep for first place in the conference standings by winning their two remaining APAC games (Tuesday against Hun School and February 9 against St. Joseph’s Prep) the Friars would win the tiebreaker for the regular-season title, having beaten the Explorers twice.
Holy Ghost Prep (9-8, 1-4-1-1) took an early lead on John Seravalli’s goal 4:02 into the first period but Maddalo and Chris Wnek responded for La Salle before the first period ended and La Salle was in control from then on.
While the Explorers have scored just 15 goals in six APAC games they have allowed just 13. Maddalo says he and his teammates make defense their top priority.
“(Head Coach Wally Muehlbronner) usually drills it into us at the beginning of the year to play team defense,” the senior said. “So, we just play good team defense and that shows on offense.”
Gavin O’ Connell and Keenan Schneider scored second-period goals for La Salle before Maddalo scored into an empty net with 1:54 left in regulation.
The Explorers dropped their first four games of the season but are 6-2 since December 1.
“The first few games it starts out slow,” Maddalo said. “The new kids are trying to learn (Muehlbronner’s system). But, after midseason we started to pick up the pace on it.”
Muehlbronner expressed satisfaction with his team’s performance.
“Especially in the second period we really played well,” he said. “We had good tempo. All four lines were going. I think our defense really played just simple, smart hockey, getting pucks out or getting pucks deep, the way we need to play.”
Muehlbronner says his players, particularly the newcomers, have become more comfortable with his system as the season has progressed.
“The second half, they’ve done a pretty good job of sticking to it,” he said. “We’ve had our lapses at times, but we need to remember what’s going to make us have success.”
Will Braun got the win in goal, making 24 saves.
“We’ve ben rotating (our goaltenders),” Muehlbronner said,” and they’ve both done a really nice job.”
For Holy Ghost Prep, it was another disappointing result after a promising start. The Firebirds have lost seven straight.
“We started off the game really hard the first seven minutes,” said Holy Ghost Prep coach Gump Whiteside. “We got that first goal. I thought we played horribly in the second period and then battled in the third, but you’ve got to play three solid periods and we weren’t able to do that tonight.”
La Salle 2 2 1—5
Holy Ghost Prep 1 0 0—1
First-period goals: John Seravalli (HGP) from Shaun Moore and Landon Stout, 4:02; Max Maddalo (L) from Chris Wnek, 11:14; Wnek (L) from Maddalo, 13:04 (pp)
Second-period goals: Gavin O’ Connell (L) from Chase Hannon and Charlie Kennedy, 4:11; Keenan Schneider (L) unassisted, 7:21
Third-period goal; Maddalo (L) from Schneider, 15:06 (en)
Shots: La Salle 27, Holy Ghost Prep 25; Saves: Will Braun (L) 24, Colin Mudrick (HGP) 22
For more about La Salle College High School CLICK HERE
For more about Holy Ghost Prep CLICK HERE
Video provided by Nur B. Adam
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