Site Editor posted on March 02, 2015 23:23
Brandon Balsama scored with three minutes left in the first overtime as Washington Township kept its championship hopes alive with a thrilling 2-1 victory over Clearview before a packed house at the Skate Zone in Voorhees. The two teams will meet on Thursday night to decide the champion. From the start the game was tightly played with neither team wanting to make that first mistake. Both goaltenders were outstanding, with Zachary Burkhardt only surrendering a penalty shot goal and Max Ramos stopping 28 shots. The lone goal of the first period was scored on a deflection by Matt Kammerer on a shot by Jarret Strickon with just forty seconds left in the period.
The second period Township seemed to carry the play a little more, but Ramos kept them off the board. Clearview would tie the game at 1-1 as Trevor Smolsky, who was stoned earlier in the game by Burkhardt, would be awarded a penalty shot and this time he buried it and we were tied at 1-1 heading into the final period. Township had two power play opportunities early in the period and midway through the period but failed to capitalize. Clearview would receive a power play in the last thirty seconds of the game and it spilled over into the overtime but could not get one past Burkhardt. Township would break into the offensive zone and jammed the net, Mark DiRenzo and Riley Griffith would get the assists as Balsama was able to put the puck home in close for the game winner.
Written by Mike Costantino