TWO-GOAL SECOND PERIOD SENDS CADETS PAST PANTHERS
Feb 1, 2023For the past several weeks, the Rochester Americans have been front and center on the local high school hockey scene as part of a weekly series featuring the latest news and notes, scores and stats of select Section V games around the Greater Rochester Area.
Casey Hanrahan (1+1) and Hunter Hutteman (0+2) each turned in a two-point outing while goaltender Aiden Hill had a 22-save performance to lead the Hilton Cadets (7-10-1) to a 3-1 victory over WFL Panthers (6-9-0) Tuesday night at Lakeshore Hockey Arena.
Along with Hanrahan and Hutteman each finding the scoresheet for Hilton, Luke Manley (1+0), Tanner Smith (1+0) and Hill (0+1) all added one point each. Hill improved to 6-10-1 on the season as he turned aside 23 of 24 in his 17th appearance of the season.
WFL Panthers’ forward Ryan Brown scored his 14th goal of the slate while goaltender Seth Taylor (4-5-0) suffered the loss despite making 38 saves. In 11 games this season, Taylor has topped the 30-save mark six times, including three in his last five outings since Jan. 12.
Following a scoreless opening period where the teams combined for 28 shots, the Cadets opened the scoring less than three minutes into the middle period on Hanrahan’s tally from Hutteman.
The Panthers had a pair of scoring chances, but on their third attempt of the second period, Brown went bar down to even the score with 10:44 remaining.
Prior to end of the frame, the Cadets reclaimed their lead on Smith’s goal from Hutteman and Hanrahan with just over two minutes to play.
After the intermission break, the two teams clamped down defensively, limiting each other’s chances in the third as the score remained a one-goal game entering the final minute of play.
Looking to find the equalizer and force overtime, WFL pulled Taylor for an extra-attacker, however Manley sealed the 3-1 victory with an empty-netter with 25 seconds left in regulation.
With two games left in the campaign, WFL will travel to Ira S. Wilson Ice Arena as they face-off with Geneseo/Avon/Livonia for a 7:00 p.m. faceoff on Thursday, Feb. 2 while Hilton will take on Pittsford for a 6:30 p.m. puck drop at Bill Gray’s Iceplex on Thursday, Feb. 7.
The final installment of the High School Game of the Week series will feature the Canandaigua Academy Braves battling the Churchville-Chili Saints on Feb. 7 for at 7:00 p.m. contest at the Greater Canandaigua Civic Center.