Photo courtesy of Tracy Valko: https://solsports.zenfolio.com/f710114994
SHSHL Playoffs opening round
CENTRAL BUCKS SOUTH 6, SOUDERTON 2
By Ben Reese
HATFIELD — Defense was the name of the game for Central Bucks South in its win over Souderton in a AA quarterfinal game of the Suburban High School Hockey League at Hatfield Ice on Wednesday.
While the 6-2 score might not indicate it, the Titans played the high scoring Big Red first line tightly, limiting it to only the two goals. Of course, it also helped that South scored with only 30 seconds gone in the first period and followed that up with two more goals later in the stanza.
Aidan Linso netted two of those opening period goals, including the quick-hitter to open the game. His second came slightly more than 14 minutes later sandwiched around a tally by Colin Mendham.
“That was important for us because we really need to come out strong,” Linso said of his early goal. “We needed a big goal, and they got discouraged and that really helped us come out and win.”
It was the kind of game that South coach Shaun McGinty has been getting from Linso al season.
“Linso’s been having a pretty good season for us,” McGinty said. “All year long, he’s been steady.
“He’s an offensive defenseman. As much as I enjoy that, I needed him to play defense and that’s what he’s improved a lot this year. He’s played a really solid defense.”
And, for most of the game, the entire Titans team did also. The South defense limited the Souderton offense to only 27 shots for the game, allowing 10 in the first period, eight in the second and nine in the third.
“We’ve been struggling in our D zone so we’ve been working on it,” Linso said. “We’ve just been committing to playing defense as a team.”
Souderton’s top line of Maxwell Ryon, Seth Grossman and Nicholas Smith had combined to score 83 goals this season. The Titans’ defense limited them to two goals, one by Grossman and one by Smith.
“They didn’t give up many opportunities,” said Souderton coach Ryan Uchniat of South. “I thought their D zone was very strong.
“We didn’t get many quality opportunities in their zone. They really matched our first line.
“Our first line is our bread and butter. They did a good job staying tight on them.”
McGinty was pleased with his team’s defensive effort.
“Defensively, we really turned our game around,” he said. “We’ve been struggling the last couple games shutting down our defensive zone and that’s a big part of hockey.
“At this time of year, it’s just simple hockey. Simple hockey wins.
“It’s the things they learned as Mites and Squirts, but it’s the simple plays. If you make small mistakes, teams are going to capitalize.
“We didn’t give them much opportunity. When they had opportunity, it was from outside.”
Linso got things going in the first period, scoring with 30 seconds gone off an assist from Ryan Frey. Mendham notched the second goal for the Titans in the period with help from Sean Cutter, and then Linso got his second goal with an assist from Mendham.
Things got a little physical in the second and third periods. While not a lot of penalties were called, there was some banging going on on the ice.
“It was a physical game from start to finish,” said Uchniat. “That’s what playoff hockey is all about.”
DJ Lindenmuth kept the Titans rolling in the second period. He scored a power-play goal with 11 minutes elapsed. Souderton came back with only 12 seconds remaining in the stanza as Smith scored off a pass from Grossman.
South struck quickly once again, this time in the third period. Cutter beat Souderton goalie Connor Paulus at the 1:57 mark.
Frey collected a goal of his own at 8:12 before Grossman ended the scoring in the game with Souderton’s second goal.
CB South advances to the semifinals next week against Council Rock South. Souderton is eliminated from the playoffs and will prepare for the upcoming Flyers Cup.
CB South 6, Souderton 2
Souderton 0 1 1 — 2
CB Souoth 3 1 2 — 6
First period: 1, Aidan Linso CBS (Ryan Frey) 0:30; 2, Colin Mendham CBS (Sean Cutter) 12:11; 3, Linso CBS (Mendham) 14:42.
Second period: 4, DJ Lindenmuth CBS (Joey Slobodrian) 11:00 PP; 5, Nicholas Smith S (Seth Grossman) 16:48.
Third period: 6, Cutter CBS (Jeffrey Kvecher)1:57; 7, Frey CBS (Lindenmuth) 8:12; 8, Grossman S (Smith, Maxwell Ryon) 9:03.
Shots: S 27, CBS 37. Saves: Connor Paulus (S) 31, Nathan Napolitano (CBS) 25.
SHSHL Playoffs A
BENSALEM 3, ABINGTON 0
Bensalem rode its lockdown defense and the stellar 30-save effort in goal of Ricky Gonzalez to earn a win that vaulted the Owls into the SHSHL A final against Plymouth Whitemarrsh.
Lucas Gonzalez scored the only goal his team would need with 11:43 remaining in the opening period. Alexander Hood, who had a hand in all three goals, had the assist.
Bensalem was still clinging to that 1-0 lead heading into the third period when – with 4:20 remaining – Lucas Gonzalez connected on his second goal, this time using assists from Cole Salayda and Hood. With 16 seconds remaining, Hood scored an unassisted goal for the 3-0 final.
Bensalem will face PW in the title game a Hatfield on Wednesday, Feb. 28.
Abington 0-0-0 0
Bensalem 1-0-2 3
Shots: Abington 30, Bensalem 20. Saves: Ricky Gonzalez 30
First period: 1. Lucas Gonzalez B (Alexander Hood) 11:43
Second period: No Goals
Third period: 2. Lucas Gonzalez B (Cole Salayda/Alexander Hood) 4:20; 3. Alexander Hood B, 00:16.
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