Bryn Athyn, Pa. - The Bryn Athyn College men's ice hockey team prepares for the Delaware Valley Collegiate Hockey Conference Championships at IceWorks Skating Complex this weekend.
The Lions defeated Lehigh in the quaterfinals last friday 4-0 to advance to the next round. Terrence Johnson led the team with two goals and one assist. Ray Weissler and Ray Norfo also had multiple-point nights, with Weissler recording a goal and an assist, and Norfo notching two assists. Steven Altman recorded his second shutout between the pipes for the Lions with 20 saves on the night.
The next night, Bryn Athyn played Shippensburg in the semifinals of the tournament. In the regular season, the Lions split their contests 1-1. Sunday night, five players had multiple-point nights in the victory. David DalCortivo led the team with four assists. Jordan Roth and Benjamin Silvers each notched a goal and an assist, while Norfo and Danny Triesler each recorded two goals
Shippensburg got on the board first four minutes into the period, scoring on a power play. At the 9:36 mark Dustin Synnestvedt and Roth connected with Triesler to deadlock the score at 1-1 going into the second period.
It was smooth sailing for the remainder of the game; as Bryn Athyn went on to quiet the Raiders' offense, and score seven unanswered goals to win the game 8-1.
Coach Burke expressed, "Coming into playoffs we knew that we had a lot of people's attention. The boys responded with two big wins last weekend. In my opinion, we made a little bit of a statement Sunday night against Shippensburg. Throughout this week of practice we are constantly reminding our guys the job is still not complete and we can not get complacent. We know Rowan is going to give us their absolute best and I think we are ready for them. This is going to be a heavy weight battle. I expect it to be very physical and a tight series. At this point in the season the team who executes their systems and plays for each other will be the team who is left standing. We feel confident in our team heading into the weekend as they are all pulling for each other. Not to mention, I think we have a little bit of home ice advantage with our great fans giving our boys support and I think this weekend will be no different."
On Friday night, the Lions will start their first leg of the DVCHC Championships. The champion will be determined by the best of three games. Rowan received a first round bye and played Widener in the semifinals. The Profs won 2-1 in triple overtime, over a tough defensive Widener team.
Last time Bryn Athyn and Rowan met, the Lions won 7-3 at home.
Norfo picked up his first hat-trick of the season, as well as an assist. Johnson recorded three assists, while DalCortivo notched a goal and two assists. Weissler added a goal and an assist. Andrew Dexter and Silvers each recorded a goal, and Jordan Roth notched an assist.
The Lions got on the board two and half minutes into the game when Weissler passed the puck into the slot from behind the net and found Norfo. At the 14:32 mark, DalCortivo passed to Johnson who took a shot on goal, as Norfo crashed the net and put it home on the rebound. Less than a minute later, with a Rowan player in the box for cross-checking, Johnson connected with Silvers for a power play goal, giving Bryn Athyn a 3-0 lead. Rowan answered thirty seconds later, chipping away at the Lions' lead. At the 10:52 mark, Norfo and Johnson found Weissler, who scored a top shelf goal. The Profs scored twenty seconds later, cutting Bryn Athyn's lead in half.
At the 9:00 mark in the second period, Rowan scored again, cutting Bryn Athyn's lead to one. The Lions answered at the 6:28 mark when DalCortivo deked the goalie for an unassisted goal. One minute later on the power play, Norfo scored top left corner off a pass from Roth and DalCortivo, giving the Lions a 6-3 going into the final period.
Dexter scored the lone goal of the third period unassisted at the 14:04 mark.
Graham Lermitte recorded 27 saves between the pipes.
Friday night's game is set for 9:30 pm at IceWorks Skating Complex located in Aston, Pa. The game will take place on rink 2.
Come out and support the Lions as they chase the championship.
GO LIONS!