Pennridge overpowers Lower Merion in Flyers Cup AA opener
HATFIELD TWP. >> Pennridge’s first line wasted no time in the Flyers Cup AA first round.
After generating two quality scoring chances on their first shift and two more early on their second, the Rams top line scored before leaving the ice for a second time.
Shane Dachowski and Kevin Pico combined for five goals and those two plus linemate Andrew Savona each tallied an assist in No. 2 Pennridge’s 9-2 win over No. 15 Lower Merion Tuesday night at Hatfield Ice.
“We know we’re always going to have an advantage,” Dachowski said. “We’re all so comfortable. We’ve been playing with each other since we were little. We’ll take that advantage all the time.”
Pico got the scoring started less than four minutes into the game. Colin Dachowski carried the puck into Lower Merion’s zone and dropped it behind him between the circles. Pico was there and beat the goalie with a wrist shot to make it 1-0.
Shane Dachowski scored two shorthanded goals in the period – the first to make it 2-0 and the second to make it 4-0. Both were similar plays assisted by defenseman Nick Young. Each time, Young sent the puck high into the air from the bottom of his own circle. Dachowski was alone at the far blue line – the first time catching the puck to set up a breakaway and the second time corralling it to go in one-on-one with the goalie.
“I play with Shane on my travel team and I did that last weekend a lot and we got a lot of goals from it,” Young said, “so I was trying to do the same thing with him.”
“Shorthanded, our goal is just send it,” Dachowski said. “(Young) did perfect with that.
“We’re such an offensive team and I think (trying to score on the penalty kill) works to our advantage.”
Colin Dachowski also scored in the first period to help the defending champions jump out to a four-goal lead through 17 minutes.
After Pennridge shot itself in the foot, scoring an own-goal when they pulled their goalie during a delayed penalty, the Rams (14-6) scored two goals in 24 seconds. Andrew Lizak scored on a powerplay and Shane Dachowski scored, setup by Pico and Savona, to make it 6-1.
Lower Merion finished out the scoring in the second period to send the game to the third with a four-goal margin, 6-2.
“We had a great first period,” Rams coach Jeff Montagna said. “We had a (bad) second period. I thought in the second period we allowed a team with 10 guys to play at their speed. I told them that can’t happen. We don’t have the luxury of taking periods off moving forward. I was happy with the way we started, one of the few times this year we did start that well, but it’s got to be a lot better.”
James Rush scored twice, one of which came on a powerplay, in the third period while Pico added his second goal to give the Rams a 9-2 win.
Pennridge split the game between two goalies. Jacob Winton started and made 12 saves across the first 27 minutes. Jacob Gilbert played the rest of the game and made 17 saves.
“We all just kept them outside and blocked as many shots as we could,” Young said of the defensive success.
The Rams will face No. 10 Neshaminy, a 4-0 winner over No. 7 Haverford, in the quarterfinals Thursday. In two regular season matchups, Pennridge beat the Skins 5-3 on the road and 4-3 at home.
“I know they have 12 seniors or something like that,” Dachowski said. “They’re going to be hungry. They’re a dangerous team. We know they have players that can change a game. We just have to lock those kids down. I think we’ve got it.”
