This past weekend the Townies faced a solid Tolman team in the Division III semi-finals. These were two hard fought games by the Townies. The Townies swept the best of three series 2-0.
On Friday night, the Townies played game one of the series. This was a crucial game for both teams. The winner of this game would have control of the series and a chance to finish off the series on Saturday.
In the first period, the Townies got of to an early lead when foward Paul Lukas nothched a goal two minutes into the game on a great feed from Ryan Barry and Kyle Marquis. Moments later the Townies found themselves shorthanded but were fortunatly able to kill it off.
Later on in the period the Townies struck again when junior Kevin Hall tallied the Townies second goal of the game to give them a 2-0 lead heading into the middle frame.
In the second, the Townies found themselves on the power play looking to go up by three. They were not able to do that as the Tolman penalty kill shut down the Townies power play. Midway through the second Kevin Hall put the Townies up by three when he notched his second goal of the game.
The rest of the second period was back and fourth action from both teams and Townies goaltender Marc Lavalley making some key stops to keep the Townies up 3-0 heading into the room.
In the third, the Townies exploded for another three goals. Paul Lukas got things started off when he scored his second of the game minutes into the third. This goal gave the Townies a four goal advantage. At the midway point of the third freshman foward Jared Estrella scored and gave the Townies a 5-0 lead.
Tolman's back up goaltender came in releif of their starter. One minute later Paul Lukas took a wrap around shot from behind the net that went in to give the Townies the six goal lead. That was all it took for the Townies as they skated away with a 6-0 victory in game 1 and a 1-0 series lead, and a chance to sweep the series on Saturday night.
Freshman goaltender Marc Lavalley made thirty-eight saves for his first carrer post-season shutout.
He thought it was very important to win game one,
''It felt great to win game one, it got us out to a good step in playoffs, it also took off a little pressure for the next game. The whole team played great and the defence was amazing,'' said Lavalley.
On Saturday night, the Townies planed to finish off the Tigers and complete the sweep. They knew that they would see a very different Tolman team then they had seen the night before.
In the first period, the Townies got off to an early lead when Paul Lukas scored 1:30 into the game on a great feed from Kevin Hall, Ryan Barry also assisted.
Later on in the period Tolman went on a 5 on 3 power play and they capitalized on it and tied the game at one. Both teams were tied 1-1 heading into the second frame.
In the second, the Townies scored a couple of goals and Tolman answered with one of their own. It was back and forth hockey in the second period until junior foward Kevin Hall tallied the Townies second goal to put them up 2-1.
A minute and a half later captain Ryan Barry scored to put the Townies up by two goals. Later on in the period the Townies got caught in their own end and the Tigers took advantage and scored to cut the Townies lead to one.
The Townies took a 3-2 lead heading into the final stanza.
In the third period, the Townies put a great period together and finished off the Tigers. Paul Lukas got it started off by scoring just twenty-eight seconds into the period assisted by Ryan Barry and Matt Hall. This gave the Townies a 4-2 lead. Just seven seconds later the Tigers scored to cut the Townies lead to one.
The Townies answered the bell when Kevin Hall scored his second of the game to put the Townies up by two goals. The score remained 5-3 until the Tigers fought back to score their fourth goal of the game, and come within one goal of the tie.
As the clock ticked down to it's final minutesd the Tigers put a ton of preassure on the Townies but goaltender Marc Lavalley along with the Townies skaters shutdown all of the Tigers chances. In the final minute of playTolman pulled their goalie for the extra skater. Kevin Hall blocked a Tigers shot from the point that sent him on a breakaway with an empty net in front of him and he scored his third of the game and clinched the Townies their first trip to the finals since 2006. The Townies skated away with a 6-4 win and swept the Tigers.
Freshman goaltender Marc Lavalley stopped twenty-eight shots for the Townies win.
The Townies will now play Mount Hope High School in the Division III State Championship.
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