LANDON HOCKEY 5 StA 2

The home team arrived at Ft. DuPont full of anticipation. They had a 7W 2L 2T total record, but were undefeated in IAC play. The Bears have a tie in that league’s schedule. A win or tie by the Bulldogs would earn them the #1 seed in that tournament. The home team’s fans provide vocal support to StA. After 30 minutes, it appeared as though success was in their grasp with a 2-1 lead. At the last horn, the scoreboard read Bears 5 Bulldogs 2. 

Landon played with three new lines and two defensive pairings. An early misconduct penalty by one of the Bulldogs gave the visitors a five minute advantage, but in spite of many shots on goal, the visitors did not score. The Bears played an up tempo game which characterized their recent pace and outshot StA 14-9 at the end of the first period. With 1:58 remaining in the 1^st period, Captain Graham Shue converted a nice pass from Freshman Brian Jordan to take a 1 goal lead. 

END OF 1^ST PERIOD BEARS 1 BULLDOGS 0

The early portion of the next period was dominated by the referees calling one and then a second penalty against the visitors. The Bears were able to defend against a 5 on 3 for 1:06 and the remainder of the next penalty. StA then was whistled for a penalty and killed that two minute assessment. Late in the period, the home team had two breakaways at 2:00 and 0:58 to take a one goal lead. 

END OF 2^ND PERIOD BULLDOGS 2 BEARS 1

After the ice was resurfaced between the periods, the visitors came out with greater energy. A sustained fore checking attack led to a pass by Assistant Captain Will Buckingham to Sophomore Colton Rupp for a goal at 13:29. This line added to the scorebook again at 9:23; this play was started by Freshman Michael Soraci who passed to Will and the senior moved the puck to Colton for his second consecutive score. That pair of goals put the Bears ahead 3-2.

The Bulldogs did not acquiesce and attempted to respond. Proof of the Bear D’s (Jack Barton, Jack Sears, Alex Norwinski and Brian Jordan) effectiveness was that they limited the home team to 2 shots on goal in the last 15 minutes, both of those pucks (and 21 previous StA efforts) were stopped by senior Sam Kroll.

With4:33 left, Freshman JunMo Kim had a breakaway; the desperate StA defenseman pulled him down from behind, thus drawing a penalty shot. JonMo waited for the chance to shoot in his defensive zone; the Bear G came out from his crease to give him a pointer or two. Whatever  Senior Sam’s advice was it worked. A deke right and one to the left caused the StA goalie to sprawl. JonMo lifted the puck over the Bulldog giving the Bears a comfortable 4-2 lead. 

The home skaters drew another penalty at 3:25. The Bears controlled the puck for most of the 120 seconds. The Bulldogs pulled their goalie and with an empty net, Sophomore Tommy Crittenberger passed to his line mate, Campbell Blue who made a super goal at 0:33.9. 

After a rough second period, the Bears scored four consecutive goals and blanked their opponents! 

FINAL SCORE BEARS 5 BULLDOGS 2

The dates, times, places and opponents for the IAC tournament , February 12-15, will be announced soon.