The boys JV hockey team won a close one Tuesday afternoon over a hard-working NMH team. The final score was 4-3 and the Big Green led this contest from start to finish. Colin Olson played his usual high-level game turning away several good opportunities given to the NMH team. He was tested mostly in the third period as the home team was called for 6 penalties in that period!
Will Lodge opened the scoring for Deerfield with a tap in from close up. A few minutes later Alex Strait would scored an unassisted goal giving Deerfield a 2-0 lead with 5 minutes remaining in the first period. Defenseman Matt Gardner would add to the score sheet a minute later with a nifty shot that found the back of the net upping the lead to 3-0. NMH would score their first goal on the day with less than a minute remaining in the period. At the end of one, it was 3-1 Deerfield.
In the second period Deerfield was on the offensive once again and kept the puck in the NMH end for much of the 15 minutes in the period. The NMH team found themselves in trouble with several penalties called on them, but Deerfield’s power play could not find ways to settle the play in the offensive zone and create those good opportunities for scoring. It wasn’t until the 1:39 mark of the period that Jack Shanahan shoveled a puck past the NMH goalie for the only goal in the period and a 4-1 lead.
Throughout the thirds period we didn’t generate much offense and began taking penalties. This wasn’t our game plan, nor did it work for us. Momentum was starting to swing back in NMH’s direction. They would score the next two goals, both on extra man advantages, and close the Deerfield lead to 4-3. The last minute was a mad scramble but we were able to prevent a tying score and managed our 13th win of the season.
Good teams figure out how to secure wins even when they stumble and run against adversity which we experienced today. The team will regroup with an off-day tomorrow and then have two practices to get ready for the final game of the season this Saturday against Westminster.