BROOKLYN, OHIO – The Normandy Invaders built a big lead on Sunday afternoon, and while the Elyria Catholic Panthers didn’t go quietly, the Invaders did enough to skate away with a 7-4 decision and will advance in the OHSAA Hockey State Playoffs.
Normandy will have a matchup with the St.Edward Eagles, who skated to a 10-0 win earlier on Sunday against the Avon Eagles in Brooklyn.
The Invaders controlled play most of the day, and were led by two players who each collected hat tricks in the win, Alex Franke and Lukas George.
But despite outshooting the Panthers 39-11, the Invaders found themselves in a dogfight in the third period, as they entered the third up 7-1, but Elyria Catholic’s Drew Beck put up three goals in the third to draw it to 7-4, but it wasn’t enough for EC.
Beck scored all four Panthers goals in a gutsy effort for the center.
The Invaders got on the board first late in the first period, as after a scrum in front of the net it was Franke putting in the puck with the assist going to Jason Piezchala to make it 1-0.
The goal came with 2:40 to play in the period.
It didn’t take long for Normandy to take a two-goal edge, as just 1:22 later, George scored for Normandy with Justin Piezchala collecting the assist.
Normandy dominated the play in the opening 15 minutes, outshooting the Panthers 15-2.
The second period started like the first ended, with the Invaders getting on the board quickly to extend the lead out to 3-0. The goal went to George, his second of the day with the assist going to Kyle Ryan and Jason Piezchala.
George’s second goal came 1:49 into the second period.
The Invaders pushed it to 4-0 with 9:02 to play in the second, as the goal went to Franke, his second of the day, with Phil Kostal collecting the assist.
Following a two-minute minor on the Panthers, the Invaders struck for their fifth goal of the day, coming with 7:19 to play in the second and still :31 left on the power play.
The goal went to Brennan Sutton, with Ryan and Franke each getting an assist on the goal.
With 3:06 to play in the second the Invaders continued the onslaught making it a 6-0 game, as George completed the hat trick with his third goal, and Crystal Greene got the assist for Normandy.
Elyria Catholic responded and found the back of the net with 2:23 to play in the second for their first goal of the day, as Beck got the goal with Ryan Sustersic and Michael Boeing both getting assists.
It didn’t take long though for the Invaders to push it back to a six-goal lead and a running clock, as Franke got his hat trick with his third goal, with Sam Beniaman grabbing the assist at 13:55 to make it 7-1.
Normandy led in shots on goal 30 to four after the second period.
The Panthers got it back to a five-goal affair at the 2:36 mark of the third period, as Beck lit the lamp for the second time on an unassisted goal.
Elyria Catholic fought off a two-minute interference minor, and got it to a four-goal game with 8:46 to play, with Beck collecting the hat trick, Sonny Flbert got the assist to make it 7-3.
After a Normandy penalty for boarding the Panthers got a fourth goal from Beck, the power play goal came with 4:54 to play to draw it to a three-goal game at 7-4. Sustersic got his second assist on the day.
The Invaders and Eagles will skate in Brooklyn on Wednesday with the puck dropping at 5:30pm.
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