Site Editor posted on February 13, 2012 22:21
Facing elimination, top seeded Cherokee had a tough battle against rival Shawnee but was able to pull away in the third period for a 5-2 win. The loss ended the season for Shawnee. Cherokee moves on and will play Washington Township next Monday night. This game was tightly played and with Shawnee coached by Tim Fingerhut they are always in the game. Shawnee struck first as Alex Churchill put them up 1-0 five minutes into the game. Cherokee came right back as Dylan Bradley got the equalizer just fourteen seconds later.
Brett Fernandes gave Cherokee a 2-1 as his point shot found its way through a maze of players and into the net. The Chiefs made it 3-1 as John Cascio notched his first goal of the playoffs six minutes into the second period. Shawnee got one back on the power play just a few minutes later when Vinny Misiewicz put home a rebound of a shot by Churchill. And we headed into the third period with Cherokee up just 3-2. The chiefs had a two man advantage early in the period and cashed in as Casey Forte scored with Cole Zucker and Jason Spieker getting the assists.
With a two goal lead Cherokee played defensively the remainder of the period limiting Shawnee to just 6 shots and Brian Miller added an empty net goal in the final minute to close out the scoring.
Notes: Not sure if history can repeat itself, but Cherokee took the same path last year losing one game and then did not lose another game.
Written by Mike Costantino
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