Cardinals Rally for Big Win

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HATFIELD – Anything can happen when neighboring rivals meet in the world of competitive sports. It’s part of the beauty of sports.
Three weeks ago, Upper Dublin routed Plymouth Whitemarsh 12-2, but anyone who thought Wednesday night’s rematch would be more of the same were in for quite a surprise.
Midway through the opening period, the Flying Cardinals found themselves on the short end of a 2-0 score.
“It was a tough one,” Upper Dublin’s Jacob Long said. “They changed our pace right off the bat and got two goals.”
That early PW surge apparently was the wake-up call the Flying Cardinals needed, and behind the brilliant four-goal effort of Brian Markman, Upper Dublin fought back to earn a 9-4 win.
“The kids hung in there and stayed focused on their game plan,” Upper Dublin coach Chris Seamens said. “They didn’t play the other team’s game.
“Even in a game where the other team has not as many players as we do, and we beat them before – they woke and did what was necessary to get the win.”
The Colonials received a pair of early goals from Shawn Pester (Matt Willits assist) and Kenneth Yanni (Phillip Iccarino assist), but Alex Faust - using assists from Stephan Barbera and Gil Lederhandler - scored after a faceoff to put the Cardinals on the scoreboard at the 5:08 mark.
“We came out and we were flatfooted, and they scored two goals,” Seamens said. “They realized and got back into it.”
The two teams were deadlocked 2-2 after Tyler Freezman scored on a rebound of a Long shot that was turned away by goalie William Lamlin, who finished the game with 35 saves.
 The Flying Cardinals went on top 3-2 after Tyler Peskin scored on a rebound (Samuel Etskovitz assist).
“(Scoring off rebounds) is one of the most important parts of the game - getting that rebound, especially on a goalie that leaves rebounds,” said Long, who finished the game with a playmaker. “You just have to make sure you’re breaking at the back post, waiting for the rebound.”
The pesky Colonials knotted the score on a goal by Christopher Ferris at the 12:57 mark of the second period, but when Markman scored a short-handed goal at the 9:24 mark, momentum swung in the Cardinals’ favor.
“Those goals are huge,” Seamens said. “Any of the goals in those types of situations are huge for the kids.”
The Cardinals added a pair of goals in the final minute of the period – the first by Lederhandler (Markman, Benjamin Hoffmann assists) and the second on a beautiful individual effort by Markman, who took it coast-to-coast, putting the Cardinals on top 6-3 heading into the final period.
That lead grew to 7-3 after a tip-in by Markman (Robert Degregorio assist). The Colonials broke that run with a goal by Kenneth Yanni (Brendan McQuiston and Iccarino assists), but the Cardinals closed it out with goals by Barbera and Markman (Long assist) for the 9-4 final.
Both players and coaches acknowledged this game is always special.
“The Thanksgiving game is always big for these kids because they know they will get a crowd out,” Seamens said.
“It’s a lot of fun,” Long said. “Kids come back from college, and it’s a great time. It starts in school because you know it’s going to be a fun time.”
UPPER DUBLIN 9, PLYMOUTH WHITEMARSH 4
Plymouth Whitemarsh 2              1              1-4
Upper Dublin     3              3              3-9
1st Period
PW-11:15 Shawn Pester (Matt Willits)
PW-8:07 Kenneth Yanni (Phillip Iccarino)
UD-5:08 Alex Faust (Stephan Barbera, Gil Lederhandler)
UD-4:01 Tyler Freezman (Jacob Long)
UD-2:32 Tyler Peskin (Samuel Etskovitz_
2nd Period
PW-12:57 Christopher Ferris
UD-9:24 Brian Markman
UD-0:56 Gil Lederhandler (Brian Markman, Benjamin Hoffmann)
UD-0:37 Brian Markman
3rd Period
UD-12:05 Brian Markman (Robert Degregorio)
PW-10:27 Kenneth Yanni (Brendan McQuiston, Phillip Iccarino)
UD-9:57 Stephan Barbera (Robert Degregorio, Jacob Long)
UD-8:06 Brian Markman (Jacob Long)
Goaltending Summary
PW – William Lamlin   Shots 44, Saves 35, Goals 9
UD – Mike Swiren Shots 22, Saves 18, Goals 4
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