Souderton holds off test from Abington
Souderton knew it was going to get a firm test against Abington.
The Ghosts certainly gave the Indians all they had, but Big Red showed plenty of mettle to continue its dream start to the season.
Walker Martin scored three goals, Jake Phaup scored two and won 11 of 12 faceoffs and Souderton pulled out a 5-3 victory under the lights Tuesday night.
The first quarter was pretty even with both teams trading spells of offensive possession but neither cashing anything in for
the first 11 minutes. Souderton had the better chances but Big Red’s first few shots went right at Ghosts goalie Connor Reed, who didn’t need any extra help making saves.
The Indians coaches let their guys know to stop shooting right at Reed. Soudy’s ball movement finally paid off with 53 seconds left in the first stanza when Walker Martin sliced in for an unassisted goal.
Jake Phaup, Souderton’s faceoff ace, made it 2-0 off a Stephen Blue assist up a man just a minute into the second frame. Jim Pettricione pulled one back for Abington off a bit of a flukey play a few minutes later.
An intital shot was deflected through Souderton’s crease where the Ghost attackman was able to scoop it up and fire it home with 9:48 left in the half.
Phaup, a Syracuse recruit, wasted no time restoring the two-goal lead. He won the faceoff, raced down the field and ripped a laser of a shot from about 20 yards out that beat Reed with just 13 seconds elapsed off the clock.
Abington, which had some early turnovers on offense, ran a beautiful play to cut the lead back to one. Pettricione, stationed behind the net, flipped a pass to Ryan Herman cutting right down the middle of the crease. Herman finished the chance to cut the Indians lead to 3-2.
Phaup picked off a pass and started a break, getting the ball to Trent Breneman who in turn found Martin for his second goal and a 4-2 lead with 2:41 left in the half.
Given that Souderton came in at 7-0 and Abington was 1-6, it wasn’t obvious the two teams were so far apart in the standings. The Ghosts matched Souderton’s energy and if not for a few mistakes, were basically on even terms.
The Ghosts had the only score of the third quarter when Ryan Tuffy worked his way in front and fired home with 47 seconds left. Reed made a big stop on a dart on the following possession and the Ghosts took plenty of momentum into the final frame.
Much like the first quarter, the fourth was a duel of possessions with both teams generating a couple of near-chances. Fittingly it was Phaup and Martin who combined on the big play of the quarter.
With Big Red still clinging to a one-goal lead, Phaup pulled the defense to his side and whipped a pass to Martin on the opposite post. The attackman put it home with 3:16 left.