LIONS GET CRUCIAL WIN OVER BADGERS IN M-HOCKEY
January 22, 2009
ST. CATHARINES, Ont. - In the first of two games this week against the Brock Badgers, the York Lions men's hockey team got a big victory over its fierce division rivals, winning 3-1 on Wednesday at the Seymour-Hannah Sports and Entertainment Centre in St. Catharines.
The triumph improved the Lions' record to 11-9-0-3 and increased their lead in the OUA Mid West division to five points. The loss dropped the reigning division-champion Badgers to 8-12-0-3 and leaves them in third place in the Mid West.
Defence was a high priority for both teams in the first period of the game, but York managed to get the early lead with a fluke goal towards the end of the frame when second-year forward Nathaniel Brooks (Markham, Ont.) shot the puck from behind the net and saw it roll in off of Badgers goaltender Tommy Lee (Port Perry, Ont.).
Brock carried the play for most of the second period. The pressure finally resulted in a Dan Dooley (Saint John, N.B.) goal, his first as a Badger. Even though Brock managed to outshoot the Lions 12-4 in the period, they were unable to take an advantage on the scoreboard as Lions goalie Carlo Di Rienzo (Woodbridge, Ont.) stood tall between the pipes.
The play in the third was back and forth, forcing Lee and Di Rienzo to step up in net, and both goalies made a number of spectacular saves throughout the period. Just when it looked as though the game was headed to overtime, Jeff Matheson (Calgary, Alta.) scored on a frantic 2-on-1 with 59 seconds left on the clock to give the Lions the lead. Jake Van Allen (Stouffville, Ont.) added an empty-netter in the dying seconds of the game to seal the win for the Lions.
York has only five games remaining on its regular season schedule, all against division rivals. Next up is a rematch of Wednesday night's contest as the Lions will travel back to St. Catharines on Saturday night to face the Badgers once again. Puck drop is set for 7:35 p.m.
Source: Lions Athletics
The triumph improved the Lions' record to 11-9-0-3 and increased their lead in the OUA Mid West division to five points. The loss dropped the reigning division-champion Badgers to 8-12-0-3 and leaves them in third place in the Mid West.
Defence was a high priority for both teams in the first period of the game, but York managed to get the early lead with a fluke goal towards the end of the frame when second-year forward Nathaniel Brooks (Markham, Ont.) shot the puck from behind the net and saw it roll in off of Badgers goaltender Tommy Lee (Port Perry, Ont.).
Brock carried the play for most of the second period. The pressure finally resulted in a Dan Dooley (Saint John, N.B.) goal, his first as a Badger. Even though Brock managed to outshoot the Lions 12-4 in the period, they were unable to take an advantage on the scoreboard as Lions goalie Carlo Di Rienzo (Woodbridge, Ont.) stood tall between the pipes.
The play in the third was back and forth, forcing Lee and Di Rienzo to step up in net, and both goalies made a number of spectacular saves throughout the period. Just when it looked as though the game was headed to overtime, Jeff Matheson (Calgary, Alta.) scored on a frantic 2-on-1 with 59 seconds left on the clock to give the Lions the lead. Jake Van Allen (Stouffville, Ont.) added an empty-netter in the dying seconds of the game to seal the win for the Lions.
York has only five games remaining on its regular season schedule, all against division rivals. Next up is a rematch of Wednesday night's contest as the Lions will travel back to St. Catharines on Saturday night to face the Badgers once again. Puck drop is set for 7:35 p.m.
Source: Lions Athletics