The Twin Valley High School Hockey Club routed Berks catholic by a score of 8-1 on Monday, November 26. The Raiders started slowly as they tested the Saints defense, but once Turner Stoltzfus scored late in the first period off an assist from winger Andrew Huls, the Raider’s speed dominated throughout the remainder of the contest. Tommy Phillips scored a few minutes later, assisted by Lew Applegate, before Stoltzfus scored an unassisted backbreaking goal in the last five seconds of the period to send the Raiders into the break with a 3-0 advantage.
Twin Valley increased their intensity in the second period, getting four more goals: one from Alex Rhoads (with an assist to Cole Drahus), a second goal from Tommy Phillips, a goal from Jack Mattera, and a goal from Turner Stoltzfus (completing his hat trick on an assist from Phillips – who himself finished with two goals and three assists).
Starting goalie Ian Romig, was rarely tested in shutting out the Saints for the first half the game, was replaced midway through the period by Eric Molchen.
Fine defensive work from Derek Seifert, Brandon Goebel, Austim Mokrejs, Nick Delso, Brandon Buckley and Cole Grove kept the Saints off the board until a mad scramble in front of Molchen resulted in one getting poked into the net late in the third. Raider Lyle Cole then quickly set up Lew Applegate for one last tally, and Twin Valley glided home with the final 8-1 margin. The victory pushed the team’s overall record to a solid 4-2.
The Raiders opened the scoring with a beautiful tic-tac-toe passing play initiated by a feed from the corner by winger Andrew Huls to Lyle Grove to Captain Corey Biddle who tucked the puck behind the Muhlenberg goalie before the game was 20 seconds old. Tommy Phillips then scored an unassisted goal, picking off an errant clearing pass and firing past the Muhlenberg goalie. The scoring parade continued unabated from that point. Biddle finished with two goals and two assists, Phillips added a second goal and an assist, Lyle Grove had two goals and two assists, freshman Brandon Kane kicked in with a hat trick and an assist, defenseman Cole Grove had a goal and two assists, and Jack Mattera and Nick Delso each contributed a goal. Goalies Ian Romig and Eric Molchen were hardly tested in posting their combined shutout, thanks in no small measure to fine defensive work from Austin Mokrejs , Lew Applegate, Brandon Buckley, Turner Stoltzfus, Brandon Goebel and Alex Rhoads.
Continuing their offensive outburst on Sunday, November 18, Twin Valley dominated Daniel Boone by a score of 9-3. Once again, the Raiders scored early and often, with Tommy Phillips the offensive star scoring 5 goals while adding an assist for good measure. Lyle Grove once again contributed two goals, Corey Biddle added goal and 2 assists, Derek Seifert chipped in with a goal while Lew Applegate added two assists. The defense and goaltending were once again solid with strong performances turned in by goalies Ian Romig and Eric Molchen and solid defensive play form Nick Delso, Cole Grove, Austin Mokrejs and Jack Mattera.
The Raiders are off to a fine 3-2 start to the season as they mold their young team into a cohesive unit, one that should be a force to be reckoned with by the time the playoffs roll around in March.
Plowville resident Keith Huls has coached baseball,softball, soccer, basketball, football, ice hockey and lacrosse from farm level to high school. You can find Keith’s blog ‘Keith’s Korner’ online at www.tricountyrecord.com/section/blogs
