West Springfield, MA – Sticking around for game number two on the day at the Olympia Ice Center, we had a great D3 matchup in the MIAA tournament between the West Springfield Terriers and the Pembroke Titans.
West Springfield would get a quick start to the game with great pressure in the offensive zone and a couple great shots on net in the opening minutes. This would get West Springfield on the board early with a great shorthanded opportunity from senior forward Chase Navone with a nice wrist shot that would beat the goalie five hole to give the Terriers a 1-0 lead. The very next shift West Springfield kept the pressure on and got another from junior forward Christopher Torres on a backhand shot from the slot after a scrum in front to make it 2-0 Terriers. Both sides would go up and down the ice in the remaining minutes of the first but the score would stay 2-0 heading into the second.
Kicking off in the second period West Springfield would come out looking to extend their lead by getting pucks in deep and shots on net. Pembroke would get it’s chances off a couple of odd man rushes five minutes into the period but West Springfield would play some solid defense and deny any chances in their zone. West Springfield would respond with a couple great odd man rushes of their own but failed to connect on any shots on net to strengthen their lead. Pembroke would tighten up defensively and create a chance for senior forward Anthony Birolini to get a breakaway opportunity which led to Pembroke’s first goal of the game. Birolini was able to make a nice forehand-backhand move to beat the goalie low pad side to make this game 2-1 with a couple minutes remaining in the second. West Springfield answered with some sustained pressure in the Pembroke end but would go to the intermission up 2-1.
Pembroke started the period off on a good note, getting pucks deep and making it hard for West Springfield to generate any offense. West Springfield would come back and get their chances but freshman goalie Kyle Ready would deal with anything his way to keep it a one goal game with seven minutes left in the third. West Springfield senior goalie Kaden Navone would come up with some unbelievable saves of his own with four minutes to go to keep the Terriers in it up 2-1. Pembroke would go on two separate power plays with three minutes to go but West Springfield was able to clear any danger near their net and close this game out with a huge 2-1 victory to advance to the next round of the tournament. They now await the winner of Hopedale/Milford vs Middleboro to see where they are headed in the Round of 16.
Three Stars:
- F Christopher Torres, West Springfield
- F Anthony Birolini, Pembroke
- F Chase Navone, West Springfield