BRIDGEWATER – Wrightstowne Lane has opened their preliminary round at the 2018 Sr. Chowder Cup with a victory on Thursday, slipping past the Valley Forge Independence 4-3 at the Bridgewater Ice Arena.
The game started with a flourish as the two sides combined to score three goals in the game’s opening 2:30. Wrightstowne notched a pair as Dylan Pasley scored just five-seconds in and then Ben Bergman potted another at 2:04. Jake Moleski stemmed the bleeding before Valley Forge was completely over run, netting the Independence first goal at 2:22 to make it 2-1.
That was where the score remained through the remaining 22:30 of the first half and into the second before Payton Felix drew Valley Forge back to even at 5:14.
Wrightstowne went on to restore their two-goal advantage. Jake DeFares at 7:13 and then a power play goal by Gavin Hulser at 11:54 made it 4-2.
The Independence made a late surge, JD George scoring at 22:06 to cut his side’s deficit to one, but the game clock elapsed before they could get any closer and the game ended 4-3.
DeFares led all scores in the contest with a goal and two assists, while Felix led the Valley Forge offense with a goal and assist to his credit.
Wrightstowne netminder Chris Ponticello was credited with the victory.
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