Site Editor posted on February 20, 2009 21:31
Washington Township scored three goals in the final eight minutes of the third period and defeated Clearview 5-3 before a packed house at Hollydell. Trailing throughout most of the game, Township has still not found its stride in the tournament and assistant coach Chris Macchione attributes the inability to get off to quick starts as one of the main sticking points. As it turns out Coach Macchione was correct as in 15 of their wins during the regular season, Township was usually ahead by two or three goals after one period. In only one game against Cinnaminson did they lead 3-0 after one period and wind up losing.
Township did come out and apply early pressure as both Eddie Sarin and Louie DeAngelo had great scoring opportunities down low, but Clearview goalie Nick Hoffmann, stopped both. Around the eight minute mark Matt Spillman, on a feed from Jordan Myers, put Clearview up 1-0. Hoffmann continued his efforts in nets and stopped Matt Fleekop down low to keep it 1-0 after one. Fleekop would tie the game at 1-1 eleven seconds into the second period with a shot from the slot. Township goalie Mike Stoever made his best save of the game as he robbed Joe Tropiano, who seemed to have an empty net to shoot at but Stoever slid across and made the save. Clearview had a golden opportunity to take control as they had a two-man advantage for almost two full minutes, but they failed to establish control in the offensive zone and Township was able to kill both penalties.
Jordan Myers put Clearview up 2-1 with seven minutes remaining in the second period as he picked up a loose puck in the slot and his quick shot beat Stoever. The play of the game came one minute later as Sarin poke checked the puck from the defenseman right in the slot and his quick shot surprised Hoffmann and tied the game at 2-2. Clearview came back again about three minutes later to retake the lead once again as Myers scored his second goal on a break as he ripped a shot from the top of the right circle and Clearview led 3-2 after two periods. With the lead Clearview was thinking defense first and had Township bottled up the first six minutes of the third period. But with a man advantage, DeAngelo scored on a breakaway to tie the score at 3-3 with eight minutes left. Back in the game Township had a great opportunity seconds after tying the game as Dylan Smith was alone in front, but Hoffmann robbed him to keep it all even.
Township had its first lead as Chris Lyons blistering shot from the point clanged off the post and into the net for a 4-3 lead. That goal seemed to give Township some jump in their step and they kept the pressure on. It wasn’t until Smith scored an empty net goal with two seconds left that sealed the game.
Notes: Although the rink was pack, the crowd noise was not what you would expect, at times it was silent. Next up for Township is a rematch with Timber Creek at Voorhees on Monday night at 7:25. Clearview with the loss was eliminated from the tournament, but will have 12 players returning next season from their current roster.
Written by Mike Costantino
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