NEVILLE TWP., Pa. — A ferocious forecheck and lights-out goaltending by Luciano Ripepi gave Thomas Jefferson a 4-1 victory over Meadville in the PIHL single-A quarterfinal at the RMU Island Sports Center on Monday night.
Edward Pazo opened up the scoring at 5:47 and Thomas Jefferson continued to apply pressure on the Bulldogs, and Hunter Fairman extended the Thomas Jefferson lead on a power-play goal at 13:03 0f the period. A Hayden Hintemeyer backhand chased Kaufman at 14:17.
Jordan McCurdy took the crease for the Bulldogs, and admirably made save after save to keep Meadville in the game. Ryan Schepplemann added a goal 6:29 into the third as he was digging at a puck in the crease, but Thomas Jefferson starter Ripepi continued to show poise in the crease, stopping the Bulldog attack from registering another goal the remainder of the period.
The two teams exchanged opportunities in the third, and only a Hintemeyer power-play goal was added to the score as Ripepi and McCurdy stood on their heads for their respective squads.
Thomas Jefferson moves on to face the winner of South Park – Montour at the Island next Tuesday at 7:00.
