St Joseph's Prep Hawks

Pine Richland 3 Moon 2 (OT) VALENCIA – Moon (11-4-1) has been playing some pretty good hockey this season with a balanced attack, physical play and strong defense. The Tigers are currently holding the 3rd seed with a tough schedule ahead over the final month of the season. The first test is a visit with undefeated Pine Richland (13-0-0), who have gone virtually unchallenged over the opening 13 contests of the regular season. Coach Bob Kennedy of Pine Richland and Craig Bioni of Moon have their clubs preparing for the playoffs, with the Rams getting set to defend their Class AA Pennsylvania State Title and the Tigers trying to lock up a top 4 seed and home berth in the playoffs, which is a little over a month away. The opening period was pretty much a feeling out process but the Rams started to pressure the Moon defense and had a couple of opportunities, but Matt Wynn made several nice stops and the Rams missed the net on some others. The game remained scoreless after one and headed to the 2nd period. The Tigers drew first blood at 10:44 as Zac Smith tipped in a shot from the point by John Mathe on the short side of Stoney Hildreth to give Moon a 1-0 lead. The game picked up with physical play on both sides and very clean play by both teams. Matt Wynn stopped a Phil Trombetta backhand at 5:06, which was the Rams best chance of the 2nd. With 3:27 to go in the period, Evan Goetz threaded a pass to Dylan Trombetta cross ice, who beat Matt Wynn to tie the score at 1-1. Richland would have an opportunity to take the lead with 2:46 to go in the middle frame, but it would be Moon’s Jon Davis who stole the puck and raced 180 feet on the breakaway only to be stopped by Stoney Hildreth with 1:53 to play. Wynn stopped Reed Loney from point blank with :41 seconds to go as the penalty expired. In the closing moments, Moon took a deep breath as the Trombetta’s got loose and just missed. The Rams struck at 13:53 of the third as Eric Febert scored from in front beating Matt Wynn low to the ice for a 2-1 lead. With 8:11 to play Moon would get the equalizer as Jon Davis made a tremendous play to control the puck shot it to the net and Cedric Brazeau pounced on the rebound and buried a wrist shot high toi the stick side with 8:17 to play. Moments later, the Tigers went on the power play with 8:02 to play, which was nullified by some excellent pressure offensively by Phil and Dylan Trombetta. Richland had an abbreviated power play as the action picked up. Cedric Brazaeu hustled to beat the PR defense and forced a penalty with 4:42 to play putting the Tigers on the power play and a chance to take the lead but Pine Richland used great penalty killing. After the Penalty expired Phil Trombetta had a great chance with 2:24 to play and Matt Wynn stoned him. PR got a power play with 24 seconds left and Dylan Trombetta nearly ended it with 6 ticks left as his shot rang off the pipe to the right of Matt Wynn and we headed to overtime. Still on the power play, it would be Dylan Trombetta, who walked out of the corner and launched a wrist shot high over the glove side of Matt Wynn to give Pine Richland a power play game winner at 4:49 of OT and a thrilling 3-2 victory and maybe a little respect for a very good Moon club.