CASTLE SHANNON, Pa. — It was a goaltender dual for most of the game between the Ringgold Rams and Avonworth Antelopes, but in the end, the Rams came away with the 5-2 victory Monday at Ice Castle Arena.
Avonworth goaltender Ben Korol made 33 saves on 35 shots in the first two periods, and it wasn’t until 11:30 into the second that his shutout bid came to an end. After having a goal waved off just seconds earlier, Hunter Hodgson flew by the Antelope defense and put a puck past Korol to break the deadlock. 42 second later, Ethan Saylor did the same thing to make it 2-0 Ringgold.
Trenton Hawk made it 3-0 Ringgold 4:24 into the third period, but Avonworth wasn’t going away without a fight. After Avery Leffler got the Antelopes on the board at the 10:30 mark, Ringgold responded again with a power play goal from Zachary Kalinowski.
RJ Noullet cut the deficit to two goals for Avonworth with 1:42 to play, but Nathan Boulanger’s empty net goal sealed the 5-2 win for Ringgold.
Korol stopped 38 of 42 in the loss, while his Ringgold counterpart Jerry Mease stopped 19 of 21 for the win.
Ringgold will move on to play the winner of Bishop Canevin and Connellsville in the Class-B semifinals at 7:05 p.m. on Thursday, Apr. 15, 2021 at the RMU Island Sports Center.
