Hill-Murray Pioneer Hockey: Game 2009-01-08

First Period
STA, Christian Isackson (A.J. Reid), 0:38.
STA, Christian Isackson (Justin Crandall), 5:33 (pp).
HM, Tyler Zepeda (Jordan Johnson), 6:32.

Second Period
STA, Zach Schroeder (Noah Gavin, Kevin Sienko), 12:27.
STA, Justin Crandall, 14:39.

Third Period
STA, Noah Gavin (Kevin Sienko, Christian Isackson), 0:45.
HM, Tyler Zepeda (Alex Kelly, Jordan Johnson), 8:45 (pp).

Shots by period
Hill-Murray	10	7	13	-	30
St. Thomas Academy	10	9	4	-	23

Goalies Minutes GA Saves Result
HM - Tim Shaughnessy 51 5 18 L
STA - Kurt Altrichter 51 2 28 W

Power Plays Goals Attempts Time
Hill-Murray 1 1 1:04
St. Thomas Academy 1 4 6:21

Timely scoring and goaltending by St. Thomas helped extend Hill-Murray's post-Christmas funk, which now includes rare back to back three goal losses at Aldrich Arena. It was a bad omen when Chris Casto blocked a centering pass it the game's first minute, only to have the puck end up on the stick of Christian Isackson for a tap in goal. Isackson and linemate A.J. Reid slithered around the Pioneer zone for much of the first period, and Isackson's power play goal from the right circle gave St. Thomas a brief 2-0 lead. Tyler Zepeda countered for Hill-Murray with a breakaway goal one minute later. The period could have seen a few more goals as both teams hit the goalpost and had several other chances, but ended with the Cadets up 2-1.

Both teams played better defensively in the second period, and it appeared the stalemate might last until the third, but St. Thomas struck for two late goals 2:12 apart. Zach Schroeder scored on a 3-on-2, one-timing a pass into the upper corner, and Justin Crandall scored an unassisted goal two seconds after a St. Thomas power play ended, coming out of the left corner and sniping a shot the hit the post and goalie's back before going in.

Confusion behind the Hill-Murray net in the opening minute of the third led to a centering pass and a goal for Noah Gavin, effectively putting the game out of reach. Hill-Murray played a spirited final ten minutes in an effort to make the score less lopsided, but failed to connect on several chances. They did, however, make the most of their lone power play, with Zepeda scoring his second from the side of the net off an end board carom of Alex Kelly's shot.