HAGERSTOWN —
The Washington County Northstars were without coach Jamie Blackwood on Monday, but still pulled out a 4-3 victory over Urbana to once again tie Thomas Johnson atop the Monocacy Valley division of the Maryland Scholastic Hockey League.The Northstars (8-1-1) came out flat in the first period, which allowed Urbana to draw first blood on a goal by Alex Clune. Josh Barron, however, tied the game on a wrap-around goal behind the net with just seconds remaining in the first.
Washington County caught fire in the second period, scoring three goals for a 4-1 advantage. Barron scored his second of the game 39 seconds into the second on a rebound off of Urbana goalie J.T. Ketzenberger. A minute later, Washington County goalie Jeremy Benda stopped a 3-on-1 scoring opportunity for Urbana, which allowed Drew Brooks to gain possession of the puck and launch a top-shelf wrister over the left shoulder of Ketzenberger. Brooks scored again on a short-handed goal with 11:43 left in the second period.
Urbana (6-3-2) cut the deficit to two goals when Jeff Matrone scored on the same power play in which Brooks scored.
“We definitely had the momentum in the second period and I thought we would carry that momentum into the third, but we got into the physical game,” said Washington County assistant coach Mike Cramer. “When we got into the physical game, I think we lost focus on the score.”
That physicality led to two Washington County penalties (one offsetting) in the third period and allowed Urbana to spend the majority of the period in the Northstars’ zone. Danny Hockey cut the Hawks’ deficit to one on a breakaway with 9:53 left in the game, and it was up to the Northstars’ defense to hold the one-goal lead.
That’s when Benda stepped up.
Benda turned away 11 shots on goal in the final period, 10 of which came in the final five minutes of the game. With 29 seconds left, Adam Gnatowski broke away from Washington County’s defense for a potential game-tying shot, only to be stuffed by Benda to preserve the win for the Northstars. Benda had 25 saves for the game.
“Jeremy is the kind of goalie that doesn’t get out of his game,” said Cramer. “He doesn’t get flustered, he was calm and played well all night. Tonight was easily one of his best games this season.”
Even without their head coach, the Northstars still found a way to win. “Our lines matched up with their lines, our defense stepped up with the game on the line, and our penalty kill played great,” Cramer said. “Overall I think we played a solid game.”
J.R. Lowery had two assists and Gage Clifford had one for Washington County.
