Site Editor posted on January 12, 2009 23:21
Alex Hashmi netted a hat trick and Ben Smith added two goals as Moorestown defeated Cherokee 8-5 at Voorhees handing Cherokee its first loss of the season. Pat Casey led Cherokee with two goals. Moorestown took the ice with a purpose tonight, not only to knock off Cherokee, but to prove they were a force to be reckoned with. Early on they controlled the play, but it was Cherokee that opened the scoring on the power play as Casey scored from the point at the eight minute mark. Just a little over two minutes later, Hashmi got his first goal to tie the score after one period.
Moorestown took the lead for good early in the second period as Smith converted on a feed from Mike Eni and it was 2-1. Pat Dispirito made it 3-1 as he was just coming off the bench and picked up the puck in the slot and his shot found the net for a 3-1 advantage. Tyler Woyshner made it 4-1 as he was sent in on a break by Corey Pedersen. Casey got one back on the power play for Cherokee and we headed into the third with Moorestown up 4-2. Moorestown capitalized on a 2-man advantage as Shane Brennan scored for a 5-2 lead. Jake Ahle got that one back, as Cherokee also had a two-man advantage and it was 5-3 and I was ready to see the typical Cherokee comeback, forcing their will on their opponent. And when Adam Hidalgo cut the lead to 5-4 with six minutes left, I thought here they come. But Craig Rushmore made several big saves over the next three minutes and Brennan fed Hashmi on a 2-on-1 for a 6-4 lead. Hashmi scored again about one minute later and the lead grew to 7-4. Mike Ligeikis scored a power play goal in the last minute to cut the lead to 7-5, but Smith iced the game with thirty six seconds left and Cherokee had finally tasted defeat.
Notes: Great job defensively by Moorestown as they shut down Frank Garvey and Kyle Kopervas, Cherokee’s top two playmakers. Moorestown is now tied for first with Cherokee but has played one more game.
Written by Mike Costantino
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