Q1 Nesh 3 Penn 2
Q2 Nesh 5 Penn 6
Q3 Nesh 8 Penn 6
Q4 Nesh 9 Penn 7
Ryan DeMatteo: 6 goals, 1 assist
Austin Tvarok: 5 assists
Evan Martini: 2 goals
Brian Birmingham: 1 goal, 1 assist
Gavin Meehan: 1 assist
Cayden Weaver: 10 faceoffs won
Will Irving: 10 saves
It was a superlative team win, one that has been challenging in the making. For the team to get a W is one thing, but to win it against an established prep school program that is skilled and well coached is even more joyous. We tell the boys every day that the goal is to be better today than they were yesterday. Today was a demonstration of that development. We were down 6-5 at half and the team committed to raising their intensity in the 3rd with a disruptive ride and strong ground ball play to take an 8-6 lead into the final quarter. Our team defense was tenacious yet disciplined in the final stage holding the two-goal lead to the end. Ryan DeMatteo was 'in a zone' scoring 6 goals from both the attack and midfield. Evan Martini played a strong all-around game while scoring two momentum shifting goals. Austin Tvarok was an effective distributor recording five assists. But it was the team defense that won the day. Junior defenseman EJ Seitz was outstanding in all facets of the game. His defensive mates Caden Fogleman, Tim Peterson and Nat Lenihan playing in front of keeper Will Irving (10 saves) consistently neutralized a dangerous Red Hawk offense. D-middies Gavin Meehan and Chase Comer were a force defensively and in the clearing game.