Pennridge holds off Neshaminy, advances to Flyers Cup AA semifinals
HATFIELD TWP. >> The Pennridge ice hockey team finally found its breakthrough – even if that was not Trey Mikulich’s intention.
With the Rams trailing Neshaminy 1-0 Thursday night’s Flyers Cup AA quarterfinal, the puck popped out to Mikulich, who opted to let off a shot that went through traffic and into the goal, tying the contest at 9:27 in the second period.
“To be honest, I didn’t even look to score on that,” Mikulich said. “I just looked to get it on net and it went in.”
Just 13 seconds later, the Rams grabbed the lead as another Mikulich shot was knocked in by Kevin Pico.
“Look, when Trey Mikulich scores a goal, you probably could’ve packed up and gone home cause it means we’re probably going to win,” Pennridge coach Jeff Montagna said. “Cause I can’t remember the last time that dude scored a goal. And it might be the first time in his life he got two points in 10 seconds.”
Shane Dachowski’s tally with 13:12 in the third doubled the lead and goalie Jacob Winton and the second-seeded Rams held on down the stretch to top No. 10 Neshaminy 4-2 at Hatfield Ice.
“We’re a bad first period hockey team – we are an incredible second period team,” Montagna said. “Like I said, when you give us a little bit of life there, we sometimes need a jump start and once they get that, when I talk about flurrying in periods, that’s what they do and that’s what they’ve done for the long time.
“It’s frustrating, it’s annoying but when they get going like that, I thought they start to really wear that team down as that period went along.”
Max Gallagher’s power-play tally with 11:15 left in regulation pulled Neshaminy within 3-2 but it could not strike for an equalizer and in the final minute of an intense contest, Pico sealed the Rams’ victory with an empty-net goal.
Pico finished with two goals and an assist while Dachowski posted a goal and two assists as Pennridge, the defending Flyers Cup and state AA champion, advances to the semifinals to face No. 6 Owen J. Roberts – which beat No. 3 Avon Grove 3-1 – 8:45 p.m. Monday at Hatfield Ice.
“They were scary times during that game but we just had to play strong defense,” Mikulich said. “And defense gives us offense.”
Pennridge posted 44 shots – 23 coming in the second period – but Neshaminy goalkeeper Cory Hemberger was superb, registering 41 saves.
“That kid can flat play,” said Montagna of Hemberger. “And it took all, what, 44 shots we had tonight to beat him.”
Winton was solid between the pipes for the Rams, stopping 29 of 31 shots.
“It was all about Jacob Winton in the net,” Montagna said. “It was all about him, he’s a sophomore and he knows I went back and forth all year, what to do with my goaltending and he made me look smart tonight.
“For a kid in his ninth or whatever-so varsity game and a spot this big, he was incredible, he was absolutely incredible and I’m so proud of him.”
Neshaminy took a 1-0 lead in the only goal of the first period, Nolan Geria striking from in front on the power play at 11:11 off a Gallagher assist.
The Rams’ push to pull level finally paid dividends at 9:27 as a puck came out to Mikulich for an effort that found the net. It quickly became 2-1 Pennridge as Pico scored at 9:14 up close after a shot from Mikulich.
“That was a shot and it just missed the net and Kevin put it in,” Mikulich said.
In the third, Dachowski knocked a loose puck in the front of the net to extend the Rams’ lead to 3-1 with 13:12.
“Big games, he scores goals,” said Montagna of Dachowski. “It’s amazing – guys key on them and he still finds a way in every big game in two years.”
Less than two minutes later, Gallagher got a stick on a JJ Hathaway shot for a power-play goal to cut Neshaminy’s deficit to 3-2 at 11:15. Pico, however, put the Rams back up two with his empty-netter at 23.1 seconds.
