Box Score
Grantham, PA – With their backs up against the wall in regards to keeping their Commonwealth Conference playoffs hopes alive, the Falcons (5-8, 3-4) found a winning formula and came through with a crucial 13-8 win over the visiting Albright Lions Wednesday night.
The win ultimately avenged a loss from a season ago which eliminated the Falcons from advancing to the playoffs and kept this season's chances of advancing within reach.
Heath Kupecky jumpstarted the Falcons offense with three tallies and goalkeeper
Brooks Arnold turned in a stalwart effort between the pipes with 25 saves to lead the Falcons to a crucial victory in conference.
“Brooks stepped up in a big way for us tonight,” coach Geof Weisenborn said of his freshman goalkeeper. “He made all the saves we needed him to make tonight and even some that he shouldn't have made.
“If we get that kind of play from our keeper it will always put us in good position to win games and he provided us with that opportunity tonight.”
Brian Meenan added three of his own points on two goals and an assist for the Falcons while teammate
Andrew Harris netted two tallies of his own. In all, nine Falcons players found the net and 11 players registered a point in the win.
The Lions (12-3, 6-2) were led in scoring from the attack position as all three starting attackmen registered multiple goal nights led by Phil Potter's two goals and three assists. Arnold's counterparts Jordan DiZenzo and Andrew Torak combined for just two saves in the loss.
As is par-for-the-course in conference play, the game started out with an abundance of energy and amped up physical play from both squads.
The Lions channeled their energy in the early going to break through on the scoreboard first. Potter scored his first of the night just 1:27 into the contest as he drove from behind the net to the right of Arnold, tucking a shot inside the far post.
The Falcons would respond in a big way soon after, however, largely in part to its attack duo
Brian Meenan and
Kevan Schellenberg. Meenan would get the scoring started for Falcons after slipping past his defender and beating goalie Jordan DiZenzo at the 11:21 mark of the first and Schellenberg would make the most of his opportunity just a minute and a half later, putting the Falcons up 2-1.
Meenan's second tally-- after two strong defensive stands by the Falcons' defense and Arnold-- put the Falcons up 3-1. Schellenberg would connect with teammate
Andrew Harris on the next offensive possession for a three goal Falcons' lead.
A goal by the Lions' Ryan Turner would be answered by
Andrew Johnson's lone tally of the night to cap off the high-scoring first period at a score of 5-2 in favor of the hosts.
Johnson's tally proved to be the first of a 9-2 run for the Falcons through the conclusion of the third period that opened up a 13-4 lead headed into the final frame. Kupecky tallied all three of his goals during that span, highlighted by a 15-yard rocket on an extra-man opportunity late in the second quarter.
The Lions wouldn't go down without a fight, however, as they would keep the host Falcons off the board for the final 15 minutes of play while tallying four goals of their own. TJ Holston's tally with just 1:15 remaining would be the last of the game for either squad as the Falcons ran out the remaining time for the 13-8 win.
The win tentatively puts the Falcons back in the driver's seat for a playoff berth. With a win in their regular season finale against Alvernia University on Saturday
AND a Lycoming loss to the fourth-ranked Mustangs of Stevenson, the Falcons would garner a playoff bid for the sixth time in coach Geof Weisenborn's eight seasons at the helm.
Playoff seeing would come down to tiebreakers based on the outcome of Saturday's E'town-LVC contest. For now, though, the Falcons have their sights set on Alvernia.
“Our guys left it out on the field tonight and we got a big win,” Weisenborn added. “Now we have to get back out on the field and get ready for our final regular season game and hope everything else falls into place.
“We are going to focus on what we can control for the rest of the week and ultimately that, right now, is our game against Alvernia.”
Saturday's regular season finale is slated for 1 p.m. in Reading, Pa.
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