Bulldogs knock off Packers
Published 10:44 pm Tuesday, February 21, 2017
- Austin’s Brayden Merritt fends off LSHSPTCUC’s Danny McCabe during the first period of their Section 1A Tournament playoff game Tuesday night at Riverside Arena. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
The Austin boys hockey team couldn’t make its scoring chances count as its season came to an end after it lost 4-2 to the LSHPTCUC Bulldogs in a Section 1A play-in game in Riverside Arena Tuesday.
The Packers (10-16 overall) held a 40-31 advantage on shots, but they were able to muster just two goals. Austin ended its season on a six-game losing streak and it had less than four goals in all of those games.
Austin’s Kory Potach tries to beat LSHSPTCUC’s Nick Douglas to the puck in front of the Bulldogs’ goal during the first period of their Section 1A Tournament play-in game Tuesday night at Riverside Arena. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
“We were just having a hard time scoring at the end of the year when we needed to. It was just the wrong time of the year,” Austin head coach Jason Merritt said. “It’s not that we didn’t try, we just couldn’t come through in the end unfortunately.”
The Bulldogs (13-12-1 overall) took the lead for good when they scored a pair of goals in the second period to go up 3-1. Isaac Arnold pulled the Packers within 3-2 when he scored a put-back goal in the third, but the Bulldogs put the game away on a late empty net goal.
Noah Bawek had 27 saves for Austin.
Austin’s Jake Halsey tries to play the puck off the pass in front of LSHSPTCUC’s Brandan Pelowski during the first period of their Section 1A Tournament play-in game Tuesday night at Riverside Arena. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
The Packers showed some strong signs early this season, but they weren’t able to finish off what they started. Merritt was happy with the leadership his seniors gave him.
“I’m pleased with them. Even though our win-loss record doesn’t show it, I hope this is the start of us being competitive year in and year out,” Merritt said. “I hope the seniors showed that if you’re willing to put in effort, you can compete. They were a pleasure to coach and I’m proud of them.”
SCORING SUMMARY
Bulldogs 1 2 1 — 4
Austin 1 0 1 — 2
First period
(B) Hunter Wilmes 6:07
(A) Kory Potach (Bradyen Merritt) 16:52
Second period
(B) Isaac Westpahl (power play) 9:42
(B) Matt Plieseis 10:55
Third period
(A) Isaac Arnold (AJ Mueller) 12:24
(B) Wilmes (empty net) 16:40
Shots: Austin — 40; Bulldogs — 31
Power plays: Austin — 0-for-3; Bulldogs — 1-for-3
Austin’s Jack Dankert collides with a pair of LSHSPTCUC players during the first period of their Section 1A play-in game Tuesday night at Riverside Arena. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
