Avon, CT – Deerfield visited Avon Old Farms in a much anticipated early season matchup.
Ethan Gingeleskie scored the first goal of the game just over 14 minutes into the first period on a redirection after great puck movement at the blue line from Yale commit Matthew Koch and Marshall Paul. A minute and two seconds after that, Avon struck again when Maksim Yakub capitalized on the power play and was able to outwait Brown commit Elliot Lennon for the goal. Avon took this 2-0 lead into the locker room to end the first period.
Deerfield began to push back, but Anthony Palmer stood strong between the pipes. Grover Henderson increased Avon’s lead to 3-0 not long into the second frame. Henderson finished the play at the net on a second-chance opportunity after Tucker Harris delivered the initial shot.
Gingeleskie picked up his second of the game to further AOF’s lead to 4-0 when Liam Donnelly drove the puck deep into the Deerfield zone and found Nico Ciardiello in front for the shot, Gingeleskie was there to bury the rebound.
Deerfield got on the board to cut the lead to 4-1 when Alex Strug had a good burst of speed and finished at the net. Not to be outdone, AOF responded with 2:31 to go in the period when Ciardiello gave the Winged Beavers a 5-1 lead going into the locker room.
Gingeleskie completed his hat trick for the lone goal of the third period with assists credited to Donnelly and Ciardiello. Anthony Palmer took the win in net for Avon while Lennon absorbed the loss for Deerfield.
Three Stars
First: Ethan Gingeleskie (Avon)
Second: Anthony Palmer (Avon)
Third: Nico Ciardiello (Avon)
Photo Credit: Dan Hickling/Hickling Images