First Quarter Deficit Too Much to Overcome

Methacton entered the game in third place standing in the PAC-10 looking to make a case for a higher ranking as they matched up against #1 Spring-Ford.  The hosts put together a strong first quarter capitalzing on a number of miscues by the visitors and jumped out to a 2-0 lead with goals by Brian Bock and Zach Monzo.  Senior Sam McAdoo brought Methacton to within one on a great individual effort as he swept across the top of the box and fired a shot that hit all three pipes before finding the back of the net.  That however, would be the last highlight for the Warriors in the first quarter as Spring-Ford rattled off five unanswered goals to close the opening frame.

Methacton was able to stem the tide in the second quarter by controlling possession and creating a number of opportunities on the offensive end.  They outscored the hosts 2-1 in the second quarter with goals by Clay Sobocinski and Sean Aronow but the first half ended with the Rams holding an 8-3 advantage. 

The second half had a distinctly different tone as Methacton slowly chipped away at the lead.  They opened the second half scoring as McAdoo finished his second of the day.  Spring-Ford responded with under a minute left in the third but Cody Ridgway was able to find Matt Brasher alone on the crease in transition to bring the score to 9-5.  Methactons Eli Miller continued his dominance at the face-off x by quickly winning the face and pushing to the goal but his shot was saved and despite a flurry of shots the quarter ended with the lead still at four goals. 

The Warriors continued the pressure in the fourth quarter cutting the lead to two on two extra man opportunities.  What looked like a broken play turned into a goal as a Cody Ridgway pass bounced off of Matt Brashers stick directly to Sobocinski standing alone in front of the goal to make the score 9-6.  Three minutes later, Ridgway found himself steps inside the box with time and room and fired home his only goal of the day to go with his two assists.  Eli Miller won the ensuing face-off and with momentum firmly on their side, the visitors looked to cut the gap to one. 

What followed was one of the deciding plays of the game.  Cody Rigway initiated behind and beat his defensemen drawing a slide.  He looked up and found Clay Sobocinski in position above the goal.  However, the pass bounced off of Sobocinski's stick with Spring-Ford collecting the loose ball and starting their tranisition the other way the Rams found Bock on the end of the 4 v 3 to notch his third of the day to extend the lead to three with just over six minutes remaining. 

Trailing by three Methacton started to extend defensively and Spring-Ford was able to find a midfielder in front of the goal to extend their lead to four.  The final two minutes of the game were run out as Spring-Ford was able to retain possession. 

Coach Ryan noted "I was really proud of how our guys responded in the second half.  They came out initially, had a few things not go their way in the first quarter, but were able to buckle down and take control of the game.  Unfortunately, the first quarter deficit was too much to overcome and Spring-Ford was able to respond at key moments in the game with some transition."

Methacton falls to 5-3 (3-2 PAC-10) and has a full week ahead of them as they play two home games (Phoenixville 4/13, Pottsgrove 4/15) wrapped around a make-up game against PJP II (away 4/14). 

Goals: 

Methacton - Sobocinski (2), McAdoo (2), Aronow (1), Ridgway (1), Brasher (1)

Spring-Ford - Bock (3), Major (2), Ullman (2) , Monzo (2), Pham (2)

Assists:

Methacton - Ridgway (2), McAdoo (1), Ferraro (1)

Spring- Ford - Glowacki (2), Major (1), Pham (1)

Saves:                                                                          Face-offs:

Methacton - Murphy (8)                                             Methacton - 15/21

Spring-Ford - Novia (5)                                             Spring-Ford - 6/21