Sanders stops CB East, helps Upper Dublin to second straight win
HATFIELD TWP. >> Central Bucks East had twice as many shots but Upper Dublin had Stephen Sanders.
“I got tired after the second period, just because the shots were flying around and the play was in my zone the entire time,” the Cardinals’ goalie said smiling. “Mentally, staying focused (is how you get through it). You just keep your head in the game, try not to get distracted.”
Sanders stopped 49 Patriot shots Thursday night at Hatfield Ice, serving as a stabilizing force for the Cardinals in a 6-3 victory.
“It feels good because they’re a Double A team and we’re A,” the goalie said of the Suburban High School Hockey League contest, “so it kind of shows we can beat teams out of our division.”
Key Stretch
The Patriots, outshooting the Cards 52-24 overall, put a lot of pressure on in the third period. But Sanders made 17 saves, preserving the slim Upper Dublin lead. And then the Cardinals would add to it.
“It’s about as usual as most nights,” Sanders said of his busy evening, “but I enjoy it.
“You’re always active, you’re always in the play.”
While Sanders was locking things down, Ari Nordlinger was having himself a night at the other end.
Nordlinger scored the Cardinals’ first four goals, including the eventual game winner with 12 minutes, 44 seconds left to play. Just after East trimmed the margin to 3-2 on a goal by Owen Connor, a slap shot by Nordlinger made it 4-2 Cardinals.
East again got within one on a goal by Richard Kaczmarczyk, but after that it was all Upper Dublin. Oren Serafin and Andrew Molish did the honors, each adding game-clinching goals to make it 6-3.
Upper Dublin had led 1-0 before East tied it on a tally by Jeff Carp, and then the Cardinals pushed ahead 2-1 before the end of the first on Nordlinger’s second goal of the contest.
Nordlinger scored again in the second to make it 3-1 and then Sanders and the Cardinals weathered the Patriot storm in the third.
After a 1-4 start (with two losses to unbeaten Wissahickon), Upper Dublin has put together back-to-back victories to climb to 3-4.
“I think the beginning of the year was kinda rough but now we’re starting to pull together,” Sanders said. “The chemistry’s starting to line up and we’re starting to play as a team.”
Up Next
CB East (2-4) is back at Hatfield Ice Thursday against Pennridge, for a 7:10 start.
Upper Dublin gets New Hope-Solebury Wednesday night at 6:20 at Hatfield Ice.
“I think we’re gonna carry this over into next game and just try to keep the momentum going,” Sanders said.
