NSA vs New England Stars

by Mattia Laudi

Tyngsboro - Good on-the-road game for the National Sports Academy Varsity hockey team, that tied the New England Stars, eight points behind the NSA, in Tyngsboro, MA, with a score of 4-4.

The New England Stars start their game really strong forcing the NSA in its defensive zone in the first minutes of the game with a great a good and physical forecheking.

New England Stars logo

The first goal arrives just after 4 minutes for the home team, when Derek Nutter lghts the lamp assisted by number 12 Brian Bowen.

Under the directions of coach Rod Simmons the NSA Mountaineers fix some of their defensive issues and with a good effort and dedication tie the game when the clock points 11:12, when Zach Stein, assisted by Joe Klehinenz and Tylor Widenmaier, comes along the left board and right after the blue line fires a blast of slap shot under the cross-bar.

Taking advantage of their positive moment the Mountaineers keep forcing the opponents in their zone balancing the inertia of the game, that until that moment was in favor of the stars.

At minute 18:52 Devin Dsnoyers scores for the NSA with a great acceleration that leaves behind the defenseman, and with good coolness he makes a move on the right of the net and the puck goes right over the shoulder of goaltender.

International Junior Hockey League logo

The second period is dominated by New England. After 8 minutes the Stars score with number 17 George Costa with a tip-in in front of the net. New England keeps doing pressure on NSA’s breakout that becomes really difficult with wrong passes and several icings.

At 13:50 Brian Bowen scores unassisted for New England. At 18:05 a penalty is called against Zach Stein for roughing, and NSA has to play a very delicate penalty killing almost at the end of the period. Unforunately at 25 seconds to the end New England’s power play reveals itself succesful and Sean Duncan scores the fourth goal of the night for his team.

In the locker room coach Simmons tries to cheer up his guys and adjust the game strategy.

In the period the Stars maintain a good and solid defense that counteracts efficiently the offensive attempts of the Mountaineers. But the good attitude of NSA guys pays back at the end of the game, when at 16 minutes in the final period a goal scored by Devin Desnoyers sets the team behind of one goal, and after roughly thirty seconds Erik Hallin scores the game-tieing goal.