Hilbert's Balanced Scoring Leads to Win vs. La Roche

HAMBURG, NY – With consistent and balanced team scoring, Hilbert captured the re-match game against La Roche on April 19. The Hawks from Hamburg never trailed in the contest and used a La Roche penalty to their favor to win 16-12 and improve to 6-5 for the season.

Six Hawks found the back of the RedHawk net multiple times with three Hawks also assisting on three or more goals. Kori Halftown (Gowanda, NY/Gowanda) led the charge with 3 goals/ 4 assists and 4 ground balls. Ryan Wagner (Orchard Park, NY/Canisius) continues to be a ground ball-getter picking up 19 as well as winning 18 of his 27 face-offs. Nationally ranked Wagner (#2 as of April 18) and Josh Baker (#24) (Hamburg, NY/Frontier) each scored 3 goals in the teams composed play.

John Jewett (Blasdell, NY/Frontier) opened the scoring and was followed up with a Wagner goal at 12:50. After an unassisted goal by La Roche, Halftown and Eric Russell (Hickory, NY/Iroquois) each put one past Eugene LaBorde giving the Hawks a 5-2 lead after 15 minutes.

La Roche found a little life in the second quarter outscoring the hosts 5-4 but it was their first goal in the third quarter that tied up the game 8-8. Mid-quarter, Baker scored twice and Jewett closed the session with another goal of his own giving an 11-8 advantage back to Hilbert.

Both teams were finding holes in the defense and scoring every other possession it seemed. But it was the 1 minute major penalty called on Shawn Teixeira that gave the Hawks an opportunity to score two quick goals (15-10), one by Nick Kieffer (Lee Center, NY/Rome Free Academy) and the other by Sean Purtill (Orchard Park, NY/Orchard Park) (both assisted by Wagner) closing the door on any comeback.

Hilbert ranked #6 in ground balls a game nationally won the battle (58-48) against the #2 ranked La Roche and the Hawks were 6 of 10 in extra man opportunities compared to La Roche's 3 for 12. Pat Lunderman (Niaraga Falls, NY/Niagara Wheatfield) finished the day with 17 saves for Hilbert.

At half time of the game, the Hawks honored their two graduating seniors Matt Lamb (Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro) and Brandon Morse (Central Square, NY Paul V. Moore).

Hilbert's last game of the season is scheduled for April 27 when they host Medaille College in a 4:00 pm start.

2011-04-19