There was little to choose between Malvern Prep and St. Joseph’s Prep Wednesday evening Just one goal, which was delivered by Bennett Stanton 2:41 into the second period to give the host Friars a 1-0 win over the Hawks at Ice Line.

Stanton’s goal decided what was a memorable display of first-rate goaltending. Malvern Prep’s Isaac Matoney was perfect at one end of the ice, making 18 saves to keep his team unbeaten (3-0 overall, 2-0 in the APAC).  At the other end, Declan Geary stopped 29 of the 30 shots he saw.

“It was really fun,” Matoney said of the goaltending duel. “You’ve got to forget about the time, take it minute by minute. it was fun.”

Matoney credits the defense in front of him for their support.

“My defense was great,” he said. “They moved guys, so I could see shots from the point. They picked cup guys when I made first saves, so there were no secondary opportunities. {The defense} played a really good game. I’m thankful for that.’

Malvern Prep coach Bill Keenan praised his team’s effort.

“Obviously, Prep is a really good squad,” he said. “Both teams are pretty fast.

“It was a battle there for three periods. We got a good heart forecheck that led to a good goal it feels good to get out of here with a win

As impressive as Matoney’s effort was, Geary’s might have surpassed it. He made two big saves a minute apart to keep the game scoreless near the midway point of the first period and was under duress all afternoon.

Matoney did his best work early in the third period after the Hawks (3-1, 1-1) killed off one of the game’s two minor penalties and promptly picked up the pace.

Bur Matoney and his mates stood tall.

“We knew Prep was going to come out in the third period and press us a little bit, being down a goal” Keeenan said.

“The message to the boys was ‘You can’t let them get the next goal. You’ve got to find a way to have a solid defensive period.’

“I thought we got in front of shots. We cleared the puck out. We played a really good third period.”

St. Joseph’s Prep coach Charlie Van Kula said he would have preferred to see his team give Matoney more to do.

“We talked about it in our room, making it harder on the goalie,” he said. “I don’t think we got a ton of Grade A chances tonight so we’re just trying to replicate what we did in our first couple games to find those opportunities and make it hard on the goalie.

Van Kula also saluted his own netminder’s performance.

“I think that first game (an 8-7 win over North Penn) he’d want to have back, but ever since then, he’s been dialed in,” he said. He’s been solid. Hopefully, we can get him more run support the next couple weeks.”

Malvern Prep 1 St. Joseph’s Prep 0

St. Joseph’s Prep 0 0 0­—0

Malvern Prep 0 1 0—1

Second-period goal: Bennett Stanton (MP) from Lydon MacClay, 2:41

Shots St. Joseph’s Prep 18, Malvern Prep 30; Saves: Declan Geary (SJP) 29, Isaac Matoney (MP) 18

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