Tag: Owen J. Roberts

Owen J. Roberts 3 Perkiomen Valley 2

OAKS—A strong work ethic created opportunities that led to a victory for Owen J. Roberts Monday night. Down a goal entering the third period, the Wildcats scored two power-play goals 29 second apart and left Oaks Center Ice with a 3-2 win over Perkiomen Valley

Maximillian Cornell’s power-play goal with 9:38 left in regulation was the game winner as O.J. Roberts improved to 3-4 overall and 3-2 in Pioneer Athletic Conference play.

Grady Jones scored two goals for the Wildcats but it could be argued the senior did his best work at the other end of the ice killing penalties. He had ample opportunity. O.J. Roberts was whistled for eight of the game’s 14 minor penalties, including the first four of the game’s first five and five of the first six over the first two periods. At the end of that span Perkiomen Valley (2-4, 0-2 PAC was holding a 2-1 advantage.

 “[Killing penalties] is really important,” Jones said. “And making sure we’re staying off he kill. The kill is what kills us. They had two power play goals. If we didn’t play well on the kill tonight it could have hurt us.”

Wildcat coach Chuck Gorman is aware of the danger of too many trips to the penalty box.

“We’ve been inconsistent in that area,” he said, “taking too many penalties. “It’s something we’ve been working on, week in and week out.”

Each of the game’s five goal came in special-teams situations. Lewis Forth got the Vikings on the scoreboard with 9:35 left in the opening period when he tipped Robert Lynn’s shot from the right point past Wildcat goaltender Josh Burnheimer.

The Wildcats responded two minutes later when the Vikings lost the puck in the neutral zone   to set Jones up for a breakaway goal that tied the game.

Mason McCabe put Perkiomen Valley in front with his own power-play goal with 2:38 left in the middle period.

In the third frame, O.J. Roberts had all its gun blazing, outshooting the Vikings 16-6. But Viking goaltender Carson Moscariello was in top form and kept the Wildcats at bay.

“I’ve been coaching him now for three years, said Viking coach Dylan Nassoiy. “He’s a great kid, he has a great head on his shoulders. I can’t say anything bad about him.”

Jones scored the tying goal with 10:07 left in regulation on a forehander from the right faceoff circle during a five-on-three situation. Cornell’s game-winner came just 22 seconds later directly of an offensive right-circle faceoff.

The Vikings battled to the final buzzer but hurt their cause by taking three penalties down the stretch.

“They’re three-peat PAC champs,” Nassoiy said, “so I knew it was going to be a tough game going into it but I like the way my boys battled. I know we’re going to be seeing them again.”

• Both teams have been classified Class AAA by the Flyers Cup Committee. They are the only pulic-school teams among potential Class AAA invitees.

Perk Valley 1 1 0—2

O.J. Roberts 1 0 2—3

First-period goals: Lewis Forth (PV) from Robert Lynn and Declan Marks, 7:25 (pp); Grady Jones (OJR) from Franklin Hartman, 9:34 (sh)

Second-period goal: Mason McCabe (PV) from Jacob Edelstein and Lynn, 14:22 (pp)

Third-period goals: Jones (OJR) from Colin Daugherty, 6:53 (pp); Maximillian Cornell (OJR) from Colin Costello, 7:22 (pp)

Shots: Perk. Valley 31, OJR 41; Saves: Carson Moscariello  (PV) 38, Josh Burnheimer 29

Pennridge 7 O.J. Roberts 0

HATFIELD TOWNSHIP—It was a Flyers Cup Class AA semifinal. But Pennridge turned the occasion into just another night at the rink.

Shane Dachowski scored three goals and four other players added one goal each as the Rams routed Own J. Roberts 7-0 Monday night at Hatfield Ice. Second-seeded Pennridge (16-5) will face Pennsbury Tuesday evening at the same venue as it attempts to defend its Class AA Cup title. Judging from Monday’s effort, the Rams should feel comfortable in that setting; they dominated from start to finish against the sixth-seeded Wildcats, who closed their season at 17-6-0-1.

Dane Fitchett and Dachowski scored first-period goals 81 seconds apart, bearing Wildcat netminder Shane Towler.

Kevin Pico made it a 3-0 game 4:59 into the middle period. But the outcome was really settled later in the session when the Rams’ completely shut down the Owen J. Roberts power play and Andrew Savona and Dachowski delivered shorthanded goals

“We knew this team’s power play was lethal coming in,” said Pennridge coach Jeff Montagna.  “But the way they run it is a 1-3-1, they basically have four guys below the dots. So, that’s go time for us. You get sticks on pucks and you’re going the other way.

“It’s the only way I know as a coach. If you have the bodies, and you have the skill to do it, just be relentless. Be relentless at all times.”

Pico talked about what it takes to play the up-tempo style his coach prefers.

“You get on teams early and they’re going to hesitate,” he said. “Push up, take opportunities, and look to capitalize on those.”

James Rush extended the Pennridge lead 91 seconds into the final period before Dachowski completed his hat trick at the 9:31 mark.

Pico says the experience the Rams took away from last year’s Flyers Cup run has been an asset this time around.

“I think the experience helps,” he said. “Everyone isn’t as nervous anymore because they’ve been there before.”

Meantime, at the other end of the ice, Jacob Winton was pitching a shutout in the Pennridge net. He finished the evening with 28 saves. The sophomore said he got a good look at everything thanks to the efforts of the defense in front of him.

“When shots are coming in from the outside, it’s a lot easier to see them then on a big scramble play up front with all the guys in one spot,” he said. “Keeping them outside really helps a lot.”

Winton says he’s more at ease on the ice than he was when the season began.

“I think as the season went on I got a little bit more comfortable,” he said. ‘When you’ve got a team like that in front of you, it makes it that much easier.”

O.J. Roberts 0 0 0—0

Pennridge 2 3 2—7

First-period goals: Dane Fitchett (P) from Andrew Lizak and Tyler Manto, 5:00; Shane Dachowski (P) unassisted, 6:21

Second-period goals: Kevin Pico (P) from Andrew Savona, 4:59; Savona (P) unassisted, 7:11 (sh); Shane Dachowski (P) from Colin Dachowski, 11:56 (sh)

Third-period goals: James Rush (P) from Lizak, 1:31; Shane Dachowski (P) from Pico, 9:31

Shots: O.J. Roberts O.J. Roberts 28, Pennridge 30; Saves: Shane Towler (OJR) 23, Jacob Winton (P) 28