Site Editor posted on February 03, 2012 22:58
John Garbarino broke a 6-6 game scoring with less than four minutes left in the third period as Clearview rallied from a 6-2 deficit scoring five goals in the final period to edge Williamstown 7-6 in the regular season finale for both teams. The win catapulted Clearview into fourth place, as they win the first tie-breaker against Williamstown, which is most wins. The two teams will meet again Monday night in the first round of the playoffs, at Voorhees at 7:10.
Williamstown dominated the scoring in the first two periods as Clearview could not avoid some penalties, but once they settled down and regained some composure, they came charging back in the third period. Taylor Olson opened the scoring in the first period as he was awarded a penalty shot after a Williamstown player covered the puck in the crease. Olson notched his first of three goals on the night to give Clearview the early 1-0 lead. That call seemed to light a fire under Williamstown as ten seconds later Jonathan Ruiz tied the score at 1-1. Jake DiStasio would give the Braves a 2-1 lead scoring the first of four power play goals for Williamstown.
Nick Gomez scored on a breakaway with just seven seconds left, on the power play, and the lead was 3-1 after one. Ryan Irlich made it 4-1 for Williamstown as his blast from the point found the net, this goal coming with Clearview down 2 men. Few minutes later, DiStasio notched his second power play goal of the evening and Williamstown was cruising at 5-1. Eric Mitchell converted on a 2-on1 with Joseph Paul to cut the deficit to 5-2. But Rich Busch scored on a rebound with just over three minutes left in the second to give the Braves a 6-2 advantage.
Clearview started the comeback as Mike Vulpio converted a pass from Olson early in the third and it was 6-3. Then on the power play, Olson made it 6-4 on a pass from Tyler Richardson with about nine minutes to go. Suddenly you could sense the momentum had now swung to the View and they were starting to believe they could win this game. Olson once again scored at the seven minute mark with Paul assisting and the lead was down to 6-5. Mitchell then took a shot from the point through a screen to tie the game at 6-6 with six minutes left. That set the stage for Garbarino as his shot from the left circle beat Altbaum and the comeback was complete.
Written by Mike Costantino
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