Talbots take down Knoch
VALENCIA — In a defensive-minded game, a two-goal lead is a big deal.
Getting it in the first period can be invaluable
Hampton scored two goals in a span of 3 minutes, 11 seconds late in the first period to take to take a 2-0 en route to a 3-1 decision over Knoch in PIHL Class A action at the Ice Connection.
"That was immense for us," said Talbots coach Allan Walsh Jr. "(Knoch) is an incredibly solid hockey team. To get a lead, then make it bigger in the third period), I can breathe now."
Hampton beat Knoch 2-1 in the team's first meeting Dec. 21.
The Talbots (11-7-1) got things going with 6:25 left in the first period when Luke Leya scored unassisted on a shot past Knights goalie Ryan Naples.
With 3:11 left in the period, freshman Joey Vita deposited a shot in back of the net for the Talbots' two-goal advantage.
"Alex Mueller is our top guy (a team-leading 33 goals and 49 points, 24 goals and 26 assists more than the No. 2 leader), but we had contributions from guys like Joey Vita and Luke Leya and Ian Wood. They stepped it up tonight."
Neither team scored in the second period, but the Knights had a two-man advantage for 41 seconds but couldn't capitalize.
"We've been playing pretty well, but we had some tough breaks," said Knoch assistant coach Peter Donnelly.
"We almost buried one in the second period on the one end and it could have been a 2-1 game and we had some near misses on top. he added.
With 8:57 to play, Hampton made it 3-0 when Mueller pushed one in from just in front of the goal crease.
"We've started hitting a stride and we've been pretty good," Walsh noted. "Unfortunately, we lost to Bishop McCort. But we've played strong in the second half and have a lot of confidence."
Knoch (11-8) finally scored with 2:39 to play when Neal Donnelly tallied a goal seven seconds after the end of a power-play chance.
The Knights had two chances to score in the next minute when deflections off Talbots goalie Sam Wilson fell in front, but the Knights couldn't slip one past him.
Wilson made 23 saves, including several key stops.
"That was his best game of the season by far," Walsh said.
Notes: Both teams went 0-for-4 on power-play opportunities. ... Naples finished with 27 saves. ... Hampton opened the season at 1-4 but is 10-3-1 since, with two one-goal losses at the hands of Bishop McCort, which included an overtime decision. ... Knoch plays Deer Lakes today at the Ice Connection.
