Falcons rally from three-goal deficit in 7-4 victory
It took some time, but once Connellsville got going, it never looked back in a 7-4 victory over Elizabeth Forward on Thursday in Pennsylvania Interscholastic Hockey (PIHL) play at CFS Bank Arena in Rostraver Township.
The Falcons improved to 4-0 this season. Connellsville has scored 29 goals in four games this year.
The Warriors fell in their season opener, but gave the Falcons all they could handle in taking a 2-0 lead one minute into the first period on goals by Ian Kugler and Luke Forbes. Both tallies were at even strength. Brock Stephenson assisted on Kugler’s goal and James Martin had a helper on Forbes’ tally.
Connellsville’s Liam King got his team on the scoreboard with 2:38 remaining in the opening frame when he put a shot past Elizabeth Forward goalie Isaac Rine to cut the deficit to 2-1. Bennett Stull added his first of two assists.
Kugler returned the favor in setting up Stephenson before Garrett Seich extended the Warriors’ advantage to 4-1 on a power-play goal with 9:13 left in the second period. Isaac Brown and Forbes assisted on Seich’s tally.
Falcons coach Jason Boone brought in Andrew Weir at goalie following Seich’s goal.
Despite trailing by three halfway through the contest, Connellsville had a significant advantage in shots on goal and had carried the play, but scored three straight in 2 minutes and 4 seconds to tie the game at 4-4 with 5:04 remaining in the middle period.
Mason Mazak, Alex Boone and Sam Denny scored to level the contest. Larry Baroffio assisted on Mazak’s goal, Denny and Aiden Pletcher set up Boone and William Whittaker provided the helper on Denny’s tally.
King scored the game-winning goal with 2:14 left in the second period at 5-on-5. Although telepathy is scientifically unproven, King and twin-brother Luke channelled the Sedins of NHL fame in working on the same line Thursday night. Luke and Stull had the assists on Liam’s tally.
Logan Jenkins scored with 15:28 left in the third period to provide the Falcons with a 6-4 cushion. Boone had the helper on Jenkins’ tally.
Ryan Boone and Santo Crucio worked together for Connellsville’s final goal with 9:57 left in the contest on the power play.
Weir stopped all eight shots he faced in 26:13 of ice time for the win in goal.
Rine made 36 saves, as he was peppered by the Falcons, who put 43 shots on target.
Connellsville was 1-for-5 with the man advantage and Elizabeth Forward was 1-for-2.