Jonathan DePascale had three assists for Milford.
(Photo by Andy Hutchison)
The Milford co-op boys hockey team used a three-goal first-period effort to skate to a 4-2 victory over Norwich Free Academy-St. Bernard- Bacon-Stonington-Lyman Memorial at Milford Ice Pavilion on Saturday.
Colin DiPisa had two goals, and Brandon Argyros and Brady Dennigan both hit the back of the net in the win. Dennigan also assisted on two goals, Charles Knights had a pair of helpers, and Jonathan DePascale assisted on a trio of goals.
Goaltender Sean Rowland made 32 saves, as the Milford skaters won their third straight game, and fifth in their last six games to improve to 5-4 overall. The Redhawks fell to 5-5.
The Indians scored three of their goals off rebounds which, coach Sal Follo noted, was reward for his players staying true to the game plan.
“We said we were going to jump on them early — go hard to the net and look for rebounds,” Follo said of the pregame talk. “We played our game — put the puck in and go hard to the net.”
The Indians struck first on Argyros’s shorthanded goal 5:40 into the game. The visitors deadlocked the score only 43 seconds later, but the Indians took the lead for good when DiPisa netted his first tally at the 7:44 mark.
Dennigan added a power play goal in the final minute of the opening stanza.
The Redhawks scored late in regulation. Milford was held off the board the rest of the way, following DiPisa’s net-finder 5:39 into the second, but the Indians maintained a fair amount of pressure in the offensive zone throughout the game.
“Overall, I’m pleased with the effort,” Follo said.
Good teamwork was a factor in the Milford team’s success. “Our passes were on point today. We definitely had some good movement with the puck. We got a ton of shots,” captain Jarrod Butts said.
“We certainly had a lot more chances than what the score reflects,” said Follo, whose team mustered 35 shots on goal.
Nonetheless, a win is a win, and the Indians have been doing a lot of that lately. And that’s creating a good vibe around the team.
“When you start winning it always makes things easier, practices are easier,” Follo said. “We’re seeing some good signs.”
Butts said, “We want to stay humble because we know every win is earned and we have to work hard for every win.”