Warriors Rally Late to Overcome PJP II in PAC Opener

The first 43 minutes of Methacton's first PAC contest of the year was an exercise in frustration.  The host Panthers managed to seize much of the momentum, score opportunistic goals, and hold the Warriors at bay.  However, the last five minutes of regulation would see a flurry of action for the guests culminating in a double overtime victory on a last second goal.  

Methacton's Kyle Kacala opened the scoring on the day as Senior Connor McHugh, after a defensive stop, cleared the ball and pushed in transition finding Kacala on the near pipe.  Four minutes later, Pope John Paul's Ryan Kormos would knot the score at one each on an outstanding individual effort.  While the first quarter would present opportunities for both teams, strong goalkeeping on each end would leave the score tied at 1-1.  The second quarter saw similar swings with Methacton initially taking a lead on a Stanley Kolimago goal on a feed from Kacala.  However, the Panthers would strike back just four minutes later and the teams would enter the halftime break locked at 2-2.  

The third quarter was all Pope John Paul as the hosts jumped out to a 5-2 lead scoring three unanswered goals.  Attackman Justin Kent scored on a nice individual dodge down the left alley to finalize the three goal gap.  While the Warriors had a number of chances, they would consistently fall one pass or finish short throughout the period.  The beginning of the fourth quarter looked much like the third with the hosts holding all of the advantage and momentum.  With just over five minutes left in the fourth quarter, sophomore attackman Jack Pellegrino scored on a superb individual effort, ringing the ball off the far post and in to cut the lead to two.  Stanley Kolimago won the ensuing faceoff and took the ball himself scoring his second of the day to cut the Panters lead to a single goal.  Sensing a swing in momemtun, the Panther's coach called a timeout to regroup.  

The following faceoff was won by the Panther's Luke Roth, and in the process of trying to dislodge the ball Stanley Kolimago drew a slashing penalty.  However, a stick check led to a 3 minute non-releasable penalty that would ultimately help decide the game.  Methacton gained possession on the dead ball foul and found a number of openings in the PJP man-down defense but were unable to find paydirt.  Following a shot, Senior Ryan O'Toole pushed the ball up from X, and found Sophomore Sean Sykes alone on the back pipe.  Sykes burried the pass high and away to tie the game at 5-5 with just 6 seconds left in regulation.  Winning the ensuing faceoff kept possession with the Warriors to open the first overtime period while still enjoying a man advantage.  

The first overtime provided the Wariors best opportunity as Sykes nearly won it himself on another great look from the man-up set.  Unfortunately his shot rung off the crossbar to keep the game knotted at 5 apiece.  From there both teams would trade body blows throughout the end to the first overtime and throughout much of the second, unable to land the knockout blow.  Perhaps the best opportunity came for PJP as transition left them with a one on one with Warrior goalie Harvey Smith.  Smith made the play of the game, stopping the Panther's attacker on the doorstep and keeping Methacton alive.  Smith would also provide the spark for the game winner.  With 39 seconds left he made a save, and pushed the ball himself, throwing an exceptional clearing pass almost 50 yards to Senior Ryan O'Toole.  O'Toole pushed transition and found Pellegrino alone from 12 yards.  The sophomore attackman would bury his second of the day to provide a wild finish with only 25 seconds left in the second overtime.  

With the win, Methacton improves to 1-2 on the year (1-0 PAC) while PJP II drops to 0-1 (0-1 PAC).  Methacton plays next traveling to StrathHaven to match up with Central League foe Harriton in a multi team play day on Saturday at 12:00.