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(Leagues Map)PCL Red AAA
Backyard Battle Between Judge and Ryan Goes into OT
By Andrew Jordan
January 21, 2010
Three periods were not enough time to decide a winner Friday night in a clash between Archbishop Ryan and Father Judge, as the game ended 2-2 at the FSZ Northeast. The two rivals were both searching for a momentum booster, since the Judge Crusaders have been held winless in AAA play so far (0-5-2) and the Ryan Raiders (2-5-1) hadn't won an AAA division game since before Thanksgiving.
Despite both teams' struggles, the game started out with high intensity, and both sides had their share of chances. Midway through the first, Ryan was whistled for a double minor, and then received a second minor half way through the penalty, leaving Judge on a 5-3 power play for two minutes. But the Crusaders would have no success scoring the game's first goal. The first period ended as it began, 0-0. Ryan's goalie George Fetters held the line with 11 saves (30 total) and Judge's Matt Petitti had 14 (35).
The Raiders cracked the scoreless tie when senior Jayson Marbach found senior linemate Joe Rutter in the slot, and he wristed the puck past the Crusaders' senior goalie. The lead did not last long. Seconds later Judge's Jim McGinley, a junior, took the puck down the off wing and fired a snap shot past Fetters, tying the score at one. Late in the second, Ryan thought they had once again taken the lead, but Dan Nucero's rebound shot was disallowed due to crease interference, keeping the game tied.
It would not take long in the third for Judge to take the lead. Junior Luc Garant gloved a Ryan clearing attempt and found freshman Dylan Plitt all alone in the slot. After a pretty deke, Plitt beat Fazen with a backhand shot high glove side. With time winding down in the third, Judge killed off a Ryan power play, putting them in the driver's seat, with their first win in sight.
Ryan coach Roman Bussetti called a timeout with four minutes left to give his team a breather. Shortly after the hiatus, senior John Connolly picked up a loose puck from a scrum on the boards, beat a Judge defender, and then scored with a backhander to tie the score.
Showing no quit with 15 seconds left, the Crusaders were denied their bid for a victory when Fetters robbed Fran Mackin on the doorstep, ending the game at two apiece. Ryan (currently ranked No. 5 in the Breakaway! Top 10 AAA) faces St Joes Prep next Friday at the Skatium. Judge (No. 8) will have two weeks off until they face off against St Joe's Prep January 29 at the FSZ Northeast.
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