December 4, 2007 @ Aldrich 8:00

Two of the metro's top teams faced off Tuesday at Aldrich Arena, and the result was an addition to the series of closely contested games between Hill-Murray and Benilde-St. Margaret's in recent years. Once again, Hill-Murray prevailed, though the game wasn't decided until late - both late in the third period and late into the evening as the start was delayed almost an hour due to winter travel conditions.

Despite the long bus ride, Benilde was ready to play and spent much of the first period in the Hill-Murray end, though most of their 10 shots were from the outside. Meanwhile, Hill-Murray was making the most of its few scoring opportunities. A minute into their first power play, Dan Sova's breakout pass hit Isaac Kohls skating down the right side. Kohls worked around the lone defender and set up Nick Widing coming down the slot for a goal on the stick side. Two minutes later, Widing's work along the end boards diverted the attention of the Benilde defenders, and Kohls was left alone and scored on a screened shot from 15 feet.

Hill-Murray did everything but score in the second period, racking up 22 shots and hitting the goalpost twice. Goalie Rob Ankeny stopped Dan Cecka on back-to-back shots from close range, and snatched Kohls' wide-open shot from between the faceoff circles.

Benilde cut into the lead at 3:03 of the third period. On a delayed penalty, Blake Appelhof's shot from the left circle was blocked, but went right back to him and he scored on the short side. Moments later, Joe Phillippi rose to the occasion to protect the lead, twice stopping Niklas Almstrom on shots from the crease, one of the few times a Red Knight player managed to get off an open shot near the goal.

Hill-Murray's futility continued into the third period, as Cecka tipped a point shot off the post and then rung the goalpost again after receiving a great pass from Tyler Zepeda while shorthanded.

Phillippi had an anxious moment with just over a minute left when a bouncing shot from center ice got behind him, but the senior goalie reached back and guided the puck wide with his stick.

With Ankeny on the bench for an extra attacker, Ryan Furne flipped a long clearing pass over everyone's head, and Tyler Zepeda controlled the puck behind the defense for an uncontested empty-net goal, making the final score 3-1.

Copyright 1999-2024 hmpioneers.net

.