The boys JV Hockey team traveled to Watertown, CT on Saturday for their last road trip in the 2018-2019 season. Taft always has a competitive JV program and we knew today’s game would be a close match. The game started off slowly as both teams were trying to raise their intensity level. Deerfield would score first. Francis Gannon would find the back of the net for his first goal of the season. He put home a rebound off a nice set up play by Matt Shea. Minutes later Taft would score their first goal off a loose puck scramble in front. At the end of the first period the score was tied 1-1.
The second period was a frustrating 15-minutes for the visiting Deerfield club. Taft would score the only two goals in the period as both teams found themselves in the penalty box all too often. Deerfield was flat and had trouble creating any momentum. At the end of two periods the home team had a commanding 3-1 lead.
Finally, in the third period Deerfield found that “edge” we’d been searching for since getting off the bus. With about 10 minutes left in the game the line of Dale, Moe, and Shanahan got momentum to swing back our way when they scored two goals in less than a minute of play. Garret Moe would score both with the first coming on a power play assisted by Will Dale. His second of the game came shortly after with a nifty move inside the blue line and a quick release with his shot that zipped by a sprawling Taft goalie.
Defenseman Alex Weinman would score the game winner with a hard shot coming from the blue line. The team was able to hold off a determined Taft attack for the last 4 minutes of the game. Colin Olson would make several key saves down the stretch to preserve the road win for the Big Green. Alex Strait, George Darling, Aidan Philie, Alex Weinman, and Alex Judelson were solid the entire game on the blue line for Deerfield.
Great work by this team to remain focused and to stay disciplined throughout the contest. The effort put forth in the final period is something we can build off of heading in to the final two weeks of the season with four remaining home games. The win improves our team record to 10-3-1. Next up will be Eaglebrook at home this Wednesday.