It was most certainly a tough one to swallow for Burnt Hills/Ballston Spa last night.
The Spartans never trailed until there was 1:28 left in the 3rd, and outshot the Plainsmen 28-27 in the game. They played to a 0-0 tie after one, with Shen mostly controlling that period, as they held the advantage in shots 14-7 to that point. BHBS turned it around in the 2nd, however. A goal by Benamati and another by Pleminik were sandwiched between a Shen goal by Adam Mackey, and the Spartans went into the 3rd period holding a 2-1 lead.
BHBS successfully killed off a 5-on-3 to start the third, and held strong defensively almost the entire way. And then, the Plainsmen struck gold. Jared Lambright skated behind the net and blindly tossed a backhand at the scrum in front. It deflected off a leg of a Spartan defender and past the unsuspecting goalie Mark Stocker, who had played an incredible game up to that point. And just like that, even with the way BHBS had controlled the second and third periods, it was tied 2-2. Marty McCrudden put another home with just 1:28 remaining to give the Plainsmen their first lead of the night at 3-2, which would hold to be the final score.
It was a very tough loss to swallow for BHBS, who were seeking to beat Shen in consecutive meetings for the first time in team history. The Spartans are back in action tonight, as they host La Salle in a huge tilt, as they seek to get back on track. The Plainsmen will next play La Salle next weekend.
GOALS:
1st Period:
NONE
2nd Period:
11:41-(BHBS) Tino Benamati (9) ASST: Geordan Buffoline (11)
6:50- (SHEN) Adam Mackey (4) ASST: None
3:08-(BHBS) Sam Swingruber (5) ASST: Geordan Buffoline (12)
3rd Period:
2:49-(SHEN) Jared Lambright (2) ASST: None
1:28-(SHEN) Marty McCrudden (1) ASST: Jared Lambright (2)
