PARMA, OHIO – The Avon Lake Shoremen hockey team remained perfect on the season Tuesday night, using their quick strike offense and another solid game in goal for Cameron Stepka to top the Normandy Invaders 5-3 at Ries Rink in Parma.
The Shoremen entered the contest 4-0 in league play on the season, and had allowed just eight goals on the season, scoring 34. After a season last year in which they were just 6-22, so far this season they have been as good as any team in the Greater Cleveland High School Hockey League.
Normandy was also unbeaten in league action entering play on Tuesday at 3-0, but had some shortcomings on defense in the two-goal loss.
The Invaders allowed two first period goals to the Shoremen, and then after closing the gap to 2-1, the Shoremen scored a goal at the 6:47 mark of the second period to make it 3-1, then two quick goals in 36 seconds late in the second period basically put the game away at 5-1.
Freshmen forward Nick Ospelt led the Shoremen with two goals, the first two goals of the contest to make it 2-0 in the first period.
After sophomore forward Brennan Sutton got the Invaders on the board making it a 2-1 game with 34.8 seconds left in the opening period, the Shoremen struck for three second period goals.
The first came at the 6:48 mark after a well played defensive period, as junior defender Joey Kleinhenz found the back of the net on the unassisted goal to make it 3-1.
Then just over three minutes later the Shoremen scored their fourth goal of the night, as sophomore forward Timothy Lubertozzi got a big goal with Jared Asiaksen on the assist to make it a 4-1 contest.
Smelling victory, they extended the lead to four goals 36 seconds later, with Thomas Kacmarcik getting the the goal and Asiaksen again recording the assist to make it a 5-1 Shoremen lead.
The Invaders continued to fight in the final period, as Jake Herchick scored a goal with 4:54 remaining to make it a 5-2 game.
Normandy closed out the scoring in the final minute, as freshman forward Jason Pierzchala scored with 59.1 seconds left off a save by Stepka to end the scoring at 5-3 Shoremen.
Stepka ended the night with 22 saves pushing the goal keepers mark to 5-0 on the season.
Normandy goalie Alexis Ryan was tagged with the five goals and the loss, the first of the season for the junior to drop to 3-1.
The Invaders will be back on the ice starting December 29th for the CVCA Holiday Tournament. Avon Lake will play also on the 29th as part of the 3rd Annual Avon Lake Holiday Invitational at Nordonia High School.
Three Stars of the Game
3 – Avon Lake Forward Nick Ospelt
2 – Avon Lake Forward Jared Asiaksen
1 – Avon Lake Goalie Cameron Stepka
Click Page 2 to See More Pictures From the Matchup between Avon Lake and Normandy!
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Jim
December 21, 2016 at 9:34 am
Avon Lake is 10-1 on the year, 4-0 is just their league record.