BRISTOL—Shutouts are rare events in high-school hockey. But Neshaminy’s Colin Thurnau took center stage Thursday night, stopping all 36 shots he saw as the ‘Skins bested Conestoga 2-0 at Grundy Arena in the latest installment of the SHSHL-ICSHL interleague series.
It was the first win for Neshaminy in three starts this season. Conestoga, which was without several regulars, dropped to 1-3.
Anthony DiCrosta and Ryan DeMatteo scored the two goals but it was Colin Thurnau who shouldered the biggest share of the load.
“You’ve just got to stay focused the whole time,” the senior said. “I was tracking the puck very well.
“But, I also want to give a quick shout out to the D-line for shutting it down tonight, and to [assistant coach Aric Miller] for stepping in all alone, he coached a great game tonight.”
Miller was behind the Neshaminy bench Wednesday night, filling in for the absent Bill Mooney. He noted that the win was a total team effort.
“Everybody in the lineup did what they needed to do to get this win tonight,” he said.
Miller celebrated Thurnau’s performance.
“Colin had a solid fame tonight,” he said. He’s our backbone back there. We knew we could count on him, putting him in there, and he really stood up to the task tonight. It wasn’t easy, he faced 36 shots. But, he got the job done, and our boys stepped up for him in the end.”
DiCrosta gave the ‘Skins the lead 3:44 into the second period off a setup from Eli Kirsh. For most of the night that was all the hosts could do against Max Haimson, who turned in a solid performance himself in the Conestoga net.
DeMatteo extended the Neshaminy lead 5:59 into the third period when he concluded a sprint up the right wing by scoring the evening’s second and last goal.
Conestoga coach Mike Graves left the building looking for goals.
“It was good back and forth game,’ he said. “I think we’ve got to find a way to bury some rebounds and get to the hard areas.
“We had a lot of perimeter stuff tonight, but nothing real dangerous.”
Graves credited both goaltenders. “We have a luxury with {Haimson] in the back for us,” he said, “and they had a solid goaltender tonight too. He did a great on smothering all the rebounds and making the first save look real easy.”
Conestoga 0 0 0—0
Neshaminy 0 1 1—2
Second-period goal: Anthony DiCrosta (N) from Eli Kirsh, 3:44
Third-period goal: Ryan DeMatteo (N) from Liam Mooney, 5:59
Shots: Conestoga 36, Neshaminy 24; Saves: Max Haimson (C) 22, Colin Thurnau (N) 36