ROYERSFORD >> The Spring-Ford vs. Perkiomen Valley rivalry has a way of creating heroes.
On Tuesday night, playing his last regular-season game at Coach McNelly Stadium, Spring-Ford senior attackman Preston Page became the latest.
“As a little kid, that’s everybody’s dream right there,” Page said after his goal two minutes into overtime gave Spring-Ford a thrilling 7-6 victory over Perkiomen Valley Tuesday night.
For the Rams, it’s their seventh win in a row and 13th in the past 14 games after an 0-2 start to the season.
Playing a man up after an offsides foul on Perkiomen Valley, Page took a feed from behind the net off the stick of Ian Evans and ended the seesaw affair in the opening moments of overtime.
“We were able to capitalize in that situation,” Page said. “I got open, (Evans) saw me and I had a great look from there.”
It was a great preview of a potential PAC playoff meeting, perhaps as soon as Tuesday’s PAC semifinals at Perk Valley.
Both teams have already qualified for the four-team field to determine the league champion along with Owen J. Roberts and Upper Merion, but seeding will depend on the outcomes of Thursday’s regular-season finales (Spring-Ford travels to Methacton, while PV hosts Phoenixville).
Right now, Spring-Ford (13-3, 7-1 PAC) is tied with OJR atop the league standings, but OJR holds the head-to-head tiebreaker.
The Rams led by as much as 4-1 and weathered a PV comeback, as the Vikings held Spring-Ford to one goal in the second half. The stellar defensive effort allowed PV junior and leading scorer Bryce Coletta just enough time to knot the game at 6-all on his third goal of the evening with only 22 seconds remaining.
“We’re process driven, not results driven,” said PV coach Bryan Churchey, whose hard-luck Vikings dropped their sixth one-goal game of the season.
“If all we focus on is outcomes, you wouldn’t see the fight you saw tonight. These guys are mentally tough, but this one hurts. Give Spring-Ford credit, they made one more play than we did.”
Page scored the game winner, but Spring-Ford built their early lead on the heroics of junior Brady Welsh, who scored all six Rams goals in regulation, including four in a standout second quarter.
Perkiomen Valley won the opening draw, and controlled possession for much of the opening quarter, finally cashing in at 5:06 when Coletta broke the ice.
But Spring-Ford took control as Welsh scored four straight, including a pair of no-look efforts to expand Spring-Ford’s lead to 4-1.
“It’s just kind of spontaneous,” laughed Welsh, explaining his fourth goal when he shot the ball underhand with his back to the goal. “I don’t have a name for it.”
PV got back within a goal when James Herb and Sullivan Roop scored two minutes apart, but Welsh made it five goals a minute later, converting a clear in a man-down situation to send the Rams into the break up 5-3.
“We have a great group on offense who know when to get the ball to the hot hand,” said Welsh. “Nick Valerio, Hayden Wedemeyer, they both found me a couple times. Guys know how to move the ball, and tonight they happened to find me.
“I feel like I say this all the time, but we have confidence in everyone on our offense to make the shots.”
Both teams were backstopped by outstanding sophomores, as PV’s Christian Jones stopped 14 shots to an even dozen for Spring-Ford’s Dylan Cyr.
Cyr says the outing gives him ample confidence as the Rams prepare for the postseason.
“Not just tonight, but the whole season these guys have had my back,” said Cyr. “We’re putting it together on offense and defense.”
Tuesday’s loss evened Perkiomen Valley’s record at 8-8 (6-2 PAC), and the Vikings need a win in Thursday’s finale with Phoenixville to feel secure in making the District 1-3A playoffs when they begin May 14. PAC playoff games do not count toward the District 1 standings.
“We know what’s at stake,” said Churchey, “both in league and out of league. We won’t look past Phoenixville. We let one slip away tonight, but we need to stay with it and control what we can control.”
Spring-Ford 7, Perkiomen Valley 6 (OT)
Perkiomen Valley 1 2 1 2 0 – 6
Spring-Ford 1 4 0 1 1 – 7
Perkiomen Valley
Bryce Coletta 3 goals
Sullivan Roop goal
James Herb goal
Patrick Moloney goal
Patrick Lamirande assist
Connor Macklin assist
Jackson Baker assist
Christian Jones 14 saves
Spring-Ford
Brady Welsh 6 goals
Preston Page goal
Ian Evans assist
Mike Bendowski assist
Hayden Wedemeyer assist
Gavin Roth assist
Owen Wydro assist
Sean Hassis 13/16 faceoffs
Dylan Cyr 13 saves
