Photo courtesy of Tracy Valko. Check back for a gallery of photos of all of Wednesday’s action: https://solsports.zenfolio.com/f710114994 Wednesday’s showdown will also be highlighted in next week’s SHSHL Notebook.
COUNCIL ROCK SOUTH 8, PENNRIDGE 7 (OT)
This was a game for the ages, living up to its advance billing and then some.
And it took overtime to determine a winner in a battle of the SHSHL’s top squads at Grundy Ice. Rock South won it with 4:34 remaining in OT when Nikita Volobuiev connected on his fourth goal of the night, this one unassisted for the thrilling game-winner.
The win avenged a 7-3 loss to the Rams on Dec. 13 and gives Rock South a half game lead in the standings with a 16-1 record while Pennridge is 15-1-1.
The action was fast and furious in an opening period that saw the two teams combine for seven goals.
Andrew Savona opened the scoring with a goal three-and-a-half minutes into the game, using assists from Shane Dachowski and Kevin Pico. Less than a minute later, Gavin Nisenzon answered with the equalizer, connecting on a power play goal with assists from Jake Weiner and Chase Tovsky.
A pattern was being established early in a contest that saw the two SHSHL powerhouses exchange best shots.
It took just 47 seconds for the Rams to regain the lead on a power play goal by Dachowski (Pico assist). Volobuiev began his productive outing with a goal to even the score just over a minute later– this one with an Illia Mukhin assist, and less than seven minutes into the game, the score was deadlocked 2-2.
Midway through the period, Mukhin gave Rock South its first lead with a goal assisted by Ilya Kudzinau and Volobuiev. Savona turned a James Rush pass into the equalizer with 2:46 remaining in the period only to see Volobuiev (Peter Pereborow and Jordan Sarne assists) respond with a goal to send Rock South into the second period with a 4-3 lead.
Pennridge evened the score less than a minute into the second period when John Mikulich found the net, using assists from Pico and Savona. Seventeen seconds later, another goal by Savona (Colin Dachowski and Shane Dachowski assists) – this one on the power play - gave Pennridge a 5-4 advantage.
But not for long.
With 11:30 remaining in the period, Tovsky (Pepe assist) evened the score, a 5-5 tie that stood until Gavin Nisenzon connected using a Kevin Koles assist with 19 seconds remaining. That was more than enough time for Pennridge to even the score as Pico scored with 10 seconds remaining, using assists from Shane Dachowski and Savona.
The two teams went into the final period deadlocked 6-6, and in a period that saw both teams take 14 shots, the respective defenses stood tall as each team managed just one goal. Volobuiev scored an unassisted goal less than three minutes into the period, and Pico (Colin Dachowski assist) knotted the score less than three minutes later. Neither team scored again until Volovuiev’s game-winner.
Pennridge held a 43-39 edge in shots. Trey Prozzillo earned the win in goal, turning away 21 of 23 shots he faced. Trevor Rakszawski was credited with 15 saves. Pennridge’s Jacob Winton had 36 saves.
Savona (3g,2a) and Pico (2g,3a) both had five-point games to lead the Rams while Shane Dachowski (1g,3a) had a four-point night. Volobuiev’s five-point game (4g,1a) led a balanced Rock South attack.
Pennridge 3-3-1-0 7
Council Rock South 4-2-1-1 8
Shots: Pennridge 43, CRS 39. Saves: Jacob Winton (P) 36, Trevor Rakszawski (CRS) 15, Trey Prozzillo 21.
First period: 1. Andrew Savona P (Shane Dachowski/Kevin Pico) 13:37; 2. Gavin Nisenzon CRS (Jake Weiner/Chase Tovsky) 12:39; 3. Shane Dachowski P (Kevin Pico) 11:52; 4. Nikita Volobuiev CRS (Illia Mukhin ) 10:26; 5. Illia Mukhin CRS (Ilya Kudzinau/Nikita Volobuiev) 8:02; 6. Andrew Savona P (James Rush) 2:46; 7. Nikita Volobuiev CRS (Peter Pereborow/Jordan Sarne) 1:56.
Second period: 8. John Mikulich P (Kevin Pico/Andrew Savona) 16:16; 9. Andrew Savona P (Colin Dachowski/Shane Dachowski) 14:59; 10. Chase Tovsky CRS (Blaize Pepe) 11:30; 11. Gavin Nisenzon CRS (Kevin Koles) 00:19; 12. Kevin Pico P (Shane Dachowski/Andrew Savona) 00:10.
Third period: 13. Nikita Volobuiev CRS, 14:21; 14. Kevin Pico P (Colin Dachowski) 11:55.
Overtime: 15. Nikita Volobuiev CRS, 4:34.
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