Wildcats Holf Off the Bulls

Version:1.0 StartHTML:0000000149 EndHTML:0000002549 StartFragment:0000000199 EndFragment:0000002515 StartSelection:0000000199 EndSelection:0000002515 The KUA Boys Varsity Hockey Team improved to 19-2-2 today by knocking off Holderness 5-2.  Holderness traveled to KUA for their 3rd away game in four days.  This showed in the first period as KUA outshot Holderness 20-2, but were only able to get one past the Holderness goalie.  KUA’s Brandon Cole converted a nifty passing play from Nick Roberto and Nico Rufo.  Cole, who was excellent all night, converted again 15 seconds into the second to up KUA’s lead to 2-0.  Rufo was able to find Cole in front of the net after Roberto hounded the Holderness defense,  Roberto and Rufo assisted on Cole’s second tally of the night.  The second continued to favor KUA until a defensive coverage issue left a Holderness player all along in front of KUA’s goalie Ryan Lund.  Lund made the initial save but was unable to stop the rebound.  With the score 2-1 now, Holderness took the momentum and generated a couple of chances.  KUA was able to break the momentum when defenseman Connor Evangelista snuck down the left side of the Holderness zone and wristed a shot past the unsuspecting Holderness goalie.  At the end of the second KUA showed a lack of focus and took a five minute major cross checking penalty.  With Holderness on the power play for the first five minutes of the third period, KUA was able to effectively limit Holderness’ power play, until a wrist shot was redirected past Lund.  With two minutes still left on the major penalty the KUA penalty killers dug deep and were able to limit Holderness to zero quality chances.  KUA’s Elie Vered gave the Wildcats a 4-2 lead, when he put together a great individual effort.  Tim Baylis and Jordan Babb’s strong effort to win pucks allowed Vered to gain possession, beat a Holderness defender and then deposit a rebound of his own shot to give KUA a two goal lead.  Vered finished off the scoring by adding an empty netter with a little over a minute left.  Lund ended the day with 13 saves on 15 shots, while the Holderness goalie turned away 39 KUA shots.  KUA continues its homestand Wednesday at 3:45 when Phillips Andover comes to town.