HOCKEY

Cavaliers II White loses its first

The Cavaliers Squirt 2 White team suffered a 4-1 loss at the hands of the Seacoast Spartans.

The Cavaliers started the first period strong with the offensive line of Ty Soule, Ryan McInnis and Sal Vella working together to create several two-on-one opportunities in the offensive zone, but were thwarted by the Spartans goalie.

With four minutes into the period, Oscar Whitcomb of the Spartans managed to make a pair of quick moves to break free of the Cavaliers defense. Defenseman Matt Choate managed to spin around and get a stick on the puck trying to break up the play, but it managed to tumble over the glove of goaltender Jacob Roy into the back of the net.

The Cavaliers managed to charge right back though 1:30 later when Chase Devins bounced a pass off the boards to center Jesse Gertz who used his speed to outrun the Spartan defense. Gertz scored with a quick shot gloveside.

With five minutes left in the period Ryan McInnis managed to tip a deflected shot from Sal Vella past the Spartan goaltender, but the potential score was negated by a high sticking call.

Strong defensive play on both sides of the puck kept both teams scoreless for the majority of the second period. With three minutes left in the second period though Riley Adams scored for the Spartans on a centering pass from Jeremy Conlin.

The Cavaliers managed to keep the game within striking distance for most of the third period while Evan Doughty, Soule and Vella managed to put several good shots on the Spartan goaltender. With 4:21 left in the game, Seacoast’s speedy Will Maher intercepted a Cavalier centering pass, stick handled his way through the Cavs defenders and put the puck just out of reach of Roy.

The Cavs pulled Roy with two minutes left to add an extra attacker on a Spartan power play trying to bring the game within reach. Bryson Vater of the Spartans managed to clear the puck out of their defensive zone with just 26 seconds left to Maher who added the empty net insurance goal.