CASTLE SHANNON, PA – The Penn-Trafford Warriors came into this game sitting in the last playoff spot in AA Southeast, only one point ahead of the Baldwin Fighting Highlanders. Cole Shannon (5-6-1, SV%: 0.893) would get the start for the Fighting Highlanders and Braiden O’Connor (5-7, SV%: 0.827) was between the pipes for the Warriors.
Penn-Trafford got on the board first off the stick of Tyler Bosack (8:04). In a trend that would last most of the game, Baldwin’s Vincent Episcopo (16:47) made the game even.
The tie did not last long as Ryan Esquino gave the Warriors the lead 2:55 into the second period. Again, Baldwin rallied when Nathan Hobson (13:32) found the back of the net.
Penn-Trafford once again regained the lead when Benjamin Leslie (4:00) scored his 17th goal on the season. Justin Pollard (8:29) continued the goal-for-goal trend for the Highlanders. Noah Fischer (13:07) gave Baldwin it’s first lead of the game and Paul Zmuda sealed the deal with :47 seconds remaining in the game.
Cole Shannon ended the night stopping 30 of 33 shots on goal and the Highlanders went 0 for 4 on the powerplay.
Braiden O’Connor stopped 32 of 37 shots on goal and the Warriors went 0 for 2 on the powerplay.
With the win, Baldwin moves ahead of Penn-Trafford by one point for the 5th and final playoff spot in the AA Southeast. Both teams have six games remaining in the regular season.
Penn-Trafford will have little time to regroup as they travel to Baierl Ice Complex to play Moon, their second game in the same week, on Thursday, January 17th.
Baldwin will be at the Ice Castle Arena for 5 of their last 6 games, next against Plum on Monday, January 21st.
FULL ALBUM: Coming Soon.
