Pennsbury exploded for three second-period goals to earn a 6-4 win over Neshaminy. Be sure to check back to view game action photos in the Photo Gallery.
BRISTOL – What a difference a week makes.
Last Thursday, the Pennsbury ice hockey team opened the 2012 calendar year on the short end of an ugly 7-1 loss to Central Bucks South. Following the game, coach John Bria had a long talk with his team.
“We talked about if we were going to care enough to play hard and turn the season around,” said Falcons’ captain Luke Matthews.
The Falcons have responded emphatically, tying National Division power Council Rock South, 4-4, the next night, and on Thursday, the Falcons used three goals in 135 seconds in the second period to pull away, then withstood a late rush to hold off their local rivals from Neshaminy, 6-4.
Fans from both schools packed the stands at Grundy Ice Arena, giving the game a postseason feel.
“It’s almost like a playoff atmosphere, we get all the fans and it’s always hyped up,” said Falcons’ senior Ryan Daley. “We always look forward to these two games against Neshaminy.”
The two teams battled to a 1-1 deadlock after one period, thanks to some stellar defense and goaltending on the part of the Redskins. While the Falcons held a 16-5 advantage in shots, Redskin defenders constantly disrupted scoring chances and put their bodies in the way of shots on goal. Neshaminy blueliners Nick Verdi and Taylor Reid proved to be two particular thorns in the Falcons’ side, providing strong defensive play throughout the game. And when called upon, Redskin netminder Ed DiCrecio made several big saves on point-blank attempts.
The Falcons opened the scoring on a play set up by the hard work along the offensive corner boards by Daley, who battled his way through, around and past two Neshaminy players, then centered the puck to Matthews, whose shot was rebounded home by William Richards less than two minutes into the game.
“When I have to do it, it’s fun to battle in the corners,” Daley said. “I’m happy I was able to get out to get the pass off.”
Neshaminy answered 34 seconds later when Jordan Ducko beat Ben Henning low to the stick side to knot the score at 1-1. And while Hennig only saw 14 shots through the first two periods, he came up big on numerous occasions to give the Falcon forwards time to figure out the Neshaminy D.
“It can be hard to stay in a zone if I’m not getting consistent shots,” the junior goalie said. “I was just trying to come out, make myself big and just do what I could to keep the puck out of the net. I thought our forwards were going to break it open eventually.”
They did just that in the second period. On the game’s first power play, Pennsbury struck when Matthews fired in a pass across the front of the goalmouth from Andrew Sweetland. Less than two minutes later, Kevin Koerner scored his first of the season off a Nigel Honegger setup, then Honegger made it 4-1 just 19 seconds later on an assist from John Thornton.
“It was 1-1 after one but we had 16 shots that first period and we continued to go hard at them,” Bria said. “I told them not to worry, once we get that second one the floodgates will open up, and it did.”
“They were doing a good job in the defensive zone getting in our way in the first period,” Matthews said. “Once we got that second goal, we thought they might be back on their heels, and we thought we might be able to score again real quick. It was good to get that three-goal jump because that’s going to get our momentum going.”
But Neshaminy quickly stifled that momentum. The Redskins called a timeout following the fourth goal, and the team responded by peppering Herring for the final 10 minutes of the period. But Herring had the answer for everything thrown at him.
Daley scored his second goal of the season for Pennsbury early in the third when Matthews chipped a puck ahead along the boards and Daley took it in on a breakaway and found the net high to the stick side.
For the converted defenseman, getting a goal – which turned out to be the game-winner – in front of a large crowd was something special.
“I’m new to the offense, I’ve been playing D all season,” Daley said. “We started off slow so they moved me up just to switch things up. But I love playing offense. It’s a nice change after playing 13 years of D.
“I’ve had a couple breakaways this season, but that’s the first one I put in. It was great, especially with all the fans here to see it.”
“Ryan has been playing really well,” Bria said. “He’s been tremendous. He sees the ice very well, and when you become a senior, you have that confidence and the maturity level’s there and I’m glad to see him doing well.”
Matthews capped off a four-point night when he set up Richards’ second goal of the night on a power play less than a minute later to give the Falcons a 6-1 lead.
But once again, the Redskins would not go down without a fight. Taking advantage of an unfocused defense as well as some fortunate bounces and deflections, Neshaminy scored three goals in the final 2:36 to pull to within two goals.
Gary Tippy scored the Redskins’ second goal on a bouncing puck in close, then Ducko scored two – one on the rebound of a Steven Lee shot and the second a long shot from the point that was deflected
in – to notch the hat trick.
“This team always gives us fits,” Bria said. “I don’t care what place they’re in, where they’re at, it’s a big rivalry, and all the kids get up for the game. It’s fun to be a part of.
“Last time we were up 4-1 and they came back and tied us. So that was in the back of our minds. When you’re up 6-1 you figure you’re in the driver’s seat, and as I told the team, ‘You became selfish. You started worrying about your stats instead of the team’s two points. You got lazy and they ended up putting three quick ones in there in no time.’”
Despite the final three minutes, Bria was pleased to see the Falcons – who improved to 6-5-2 in the National Division and 10-7-2 overall – firing on all cylinders just a week after what could have been a spirit-crushing defeat.
“They’ve responded well,” he said. “I’m proud of the way we came out. It was very nice to see and that’s part of the team’s maturity and the seniors picking everybody up.”
Pennsbury 1 3 2 – 6
Neshaminy 1 0 3 – 4
First period
P – William Richards (Ryan Daley, Luke Matthews assist), 13:14.
N – Jordan Ducko (Nick Verdi assist), 12:40.
Second period
P – Matthews (Andrew Sweetland, John Thornton assist), PP, 12:50.
P – Kevin Koerner (Nigel Hoengger assist), 10:53.
P – Honegger (Thornton assist), 10:35.
Third period
P – Daley (Matthews assist), 9:40.
P – Richards (Matthews assist), PP, 9:01.
N – Gary Tippy (Eric Graham, Matt Kaleck assist), 2:36.
N – Ducko (Tippy, Steven Lee assist), 1:27.
N – Ducko (Verdi assist), 0:09.
Shots on goal:
Pennsbury 41; Neshaminy 25.
Saves
Pennsbury – Ben Herring 21.
Neshaminy – Ed DiCrecio 35.
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