Salisbury, CT– Westminster jumped out to a first-period 3-0 lead on a quick strike from Tim Donohue. At the 12:36 mark, Massimo Guarnieri added to the lead on a nice shot off a 2-on-1 feed from Brendan Gilooly. Owen Burke then found the back of the net on the power play with 5:17 remaining in the period. He ripped the puck short side past Salisbury
netminder Jordan Rittenberg.
The second frame was heavily dominated by Salisbury as they clawed their way back
into the game. Landon Klein finished a beautiful tic-tac-toe play off a feed from Angus
Proctor just over a minute in. At the 13:06 mark, Luke Walkauskas found the back of the
net off a feed from Jack Mazzella. Bringing the game back to level 3-3 was Luca
Desjardins in what was the goal of the day. Elliot Bibeau-Rivard gained the offensive
blue line and slowed up where he sauced an area pass to a streaking Angus Proctor, who collected the pass and zipped it back door to Desjardins for a one-timer.
Westminster answered right back less than two minutes later, when Donohue
struck again off the cycle and stepped to the middle and ripped it home. Westminster
would head into the locker room with the 4-3 lead.
Salisbury would strike less than a minute into the third period, where Elliot Bibeau-Rivard
finished a rebound off a point shot from Jack Mazzella. Elliot Watson put Salisbury
ahead for its first lead of the game off a zone entry where he stepped to the middle and
ripped it far side. The Martlets responded at the 14:01 mark, where Owen Burke again
ripped the short side to put the Martlets even at 5-5. Watson tallied his second of the
game shortly after, where Mazzella collected his fourth assist of the game to recapture
the lead.
Angus Proctor potted the empty net goal despite a late push from Westminster. Ryan
Galaski absorbed the loss for Westminster while Rittenberg got the win for Salisbury. 7-5 Final.
Three Stars
First: Angus Proctor (Salisbury)
Second: Jack Mazzella (Salisbury)
Third: Elliot Watson (Salisbury)
Photo Credit: Dan Hickling/Hickling Images