Game #5: Shorthanded Warhawks Edged Out by Centerville/Fairfax 1-2
Despite playing with only 8 skaters and being outnumbered almost 2 to 1, the Warhawks embraced the challenge and put pressure on the Wildcats from the first puck drop, out shooting them in the first period. An unlucky deflection from a skate helped put the Wildcats in the lead 5 minutes into the first. And things got even tougher for the Warhawks after a boarding penalty, and subsequent game ejection 3 minutes into the second, reducing the bench to just 7. With defensemen Richard Zhang and Noah Thompson on the ice almost continuously and goalie Dean Kern leaping and diving for pucks, repeated rushes from the Wildcats were thwarted. The Warhawks would not be denied. At 8:28 in the second, the dynamic duo of seniors Dylan Cass and Matt Bacigalupo broke through the Wildcat defense to get the Warhawks on the board and tie the score 1-1. In the third, a fatigued Warhawk squad didn't let up. With wings Mike Gros and Justin Shayne feeding passes into the slot, center Jason Calem released a barrage of close in shots but was not able to get one by the Wildcat goalie. With just 5:32 left in the third the Wildcats managed to get past an exhausted Warhawk defense to score and take the win.
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