Worcester, MA-The Portsmouth Abbey Ravens travelled to Worcester, MA to take on the Worcester Academy Hilltoppers in a battle of 10 win teams who are both currently on a hot streak with a combined 13-1-1 in their last 15 games.
The first period featured up and down play with some quality chances for both sides. 2023 Worcester Academy goalie Ben Plotner flashed the glove for a big save just a couple minutes into the game. With 13:31 left, 2024 Patrick McDevitt made himself big in the cage to stop a great Hilltoppers chance in tight. The Ravens would strike first as Quebec native and leading scorer Jacob Ierfino weaved and dangled his way into the WA zone and hit a wide open fellow Quebecer Peter Scartozzi who one-timed the puck home with 8:08 left. Less than two minutes later, Worcester tied the game when Nate Palumbo jumped on a loose puck, wheeled some and fired a wrist shot top corner. The period ended 1-1. Worcester was called for two penalties and one at the end of the period. The Ravens stayed penalty free in the first.
Worcester Academy killed off Portsmouth Abbey’s early power play. The Hilltoppers took two more penalties in the middle of the period. They killed both and added a short handed goal with 10:14 left. Palumbo grabbed a loose puck in his end and sent a hard, accurate pass up ice to send 2022 Jameson Allicandro on a breakaway. He converted and it was 2-1 Worcester. Worcester was whistled for a too many men and then another penalty late in the period. Another unsportsmanlike was added as well at the end so the Hilltoppers would have to kill a lengthy 5 on 3 Portsmouth Abbey power play off to start the third.
the third period saw six goals and about the same number of penalties. Just 1:17 into the third, Palumbo stole a puck and scored a dazzling shorthanded goal on the 5 on 3 penalty kill. It was unassisted. Portsmouth Abbey got back within a goal with a shorthanded tally of their own by Josh Bonrouhi. Palumbo responded less than two minutes later as he scored his third on a rebound on the power play. Allicanndro picked up the assist. Matt Millotte added another power play goal as he fired one home, top corner off a faceoff win by Dominic Silvestri. It was 5-2 and the Hilltoppers were in control. However, Bonrouhi added another goal for the Ravens at the net front to make it 5-3. Connor Dozois squashed any thoughts of a Raven comeback with a tally the power play with 1:30 left. Assists went to Allicandro and Palumbo. It was 6-3 Hilltoppers and that was the final. Plotner earned the win in net as he helped kill several early PA power plays. The final shots were 45-32 in favor of WA.
The win was the Hilltoppers’ sixth in a row and eighth in their last nine games. Worcester Academy move to 11-6 overall. They travel to North Yarmouth Academy on Saturday. The Ravens fall to 10-5-1 and play at North Yarmouth Academy tomorrow.
Three Stars
First: Nate Palumbo RF 3G 2A (Worcester Academy)
Second: Jameson Allicandro RF 1G 4A (Worcester Academy)
Third: Cam Pappetti RD (Worcester Academy)
Photo Credit: Worcester Academy