RITCHIE HILL NETS GAME WINNER IN LIONS HOME OPENER

Sunday, September 29, 2013

THE LIONS OPENED THE 2013-14 SEASON WITH A 5-4 OVER THE IUP CRIMSON HAWKS.  SOPHOMORE RITCHIE HILL BROKE A 4-4 TIE WITH 5:45 LEFT IN THE THIRD PERIOD TO SECURE THE WIN FOR PSU ALTOONA.  THE LIONS STARTED STRONG AND JUMPED OUT TO A 2-0 LEAD AT THE END OF THE FIRST PERIOD.  SOPHOMORE CAPTAIN, JEFF NELSON, SCORED THE FIRST GOAL OF THE SEASON AT 10:28 OF THE FIRST PERIOD, ASSISTED BY DAVID BRAMLEY AND BEN KINCH.  FRESHMAN DEFENSMAN JACK LAWN WOULD TALLY THE LIONS SECOND GOAL FROM A BLAST FROM THE POINT ALSO ASSISTED BY FRESHMAN DAVID BRAMLEY. 

IUP WOULD STRIKE EARLY ON THE POWER PLAY CUTTING THE LIONS LEAD TO 2-1.  BRIAN KRUSER WOULD SHOW EXTREME HUSTLE DIVING AND KNOCKING IN A LOOSE PUCK ON A REBOUND FROM LUK DEVORSKI.  IUP WOULD SCORE THREE MINUTES LATER ON A GREY ZONE TURNOVER BUT THE LIONS.  BEN KINCH WOULD GIVE THE LIONS A 4-2 LEAD ON A NIFTY TAP IN ON THE POWER PLAY.  FRESHMAN NICK DELAURENTIS AND JEFF NELSON WOULD ASSIST ON THE PLAY.  HOWEVER, THE CRIMSON HAWKS WOULD NOT GO AWAY AND SCORE TWO GOALS AT THE END OF THE 2ND PERIOD.  BRIAN KRUSER WOULD TAKE AN INTERFERNCE PENALTY LATE AND THE LIONS WOULD HAVE TO FINISH OFF THE SECOND AND START THE THIRD ON THE PENALTY KILL.

IUP WOULD HAVE :26 SECS ON THE POWER PLAY AND CAME VERY CLOSE TO TAKING THE LEAD, BUT SOPHOMORE GOALIE ZACH SHERIKO WAS UP TO THE CHALLENGE TURNING AWAY 35 OF 39 CRIMSON HAWK SHOTS.  THE ACTION WOULD BE BACK AND FORTH FOR THE NEXT TEN MINUTES UNTIL RITCHIE "SLB" HILL WOULD BREAK THE TIE ON AN ASSIST FROM NICK DELAURENTIS.  THIS WAS RITCHIE'S FIRST COLLEGIATE GOAL AND IT COULD NOT HAVE COME AT A BIGGER TIME.  THE LIONS WOULD HAVE TO KILL OFF A JACK LAWN CROSS CHECKING PENALTY AT THE END OF THE THIRD.  THE LIONS PUT UP A STIFFLING FORECHECK FOR THE FINAL FIVE MINUTES, NOT ALLOWING IUP TO BREAK THEIR ZONE.

COACH LANTZ HAD THIS TO SAY ABOUT HIS TEAM'S EFFORT.  "THERE WERE A LOT OF FIRST GAME JITTERS AND WE MADE A LOT OF MISTAKES THAT CAN BE EASILY ELIMINATED, BUT THIS TEAM HAS A LOT OF HEART AND DUG DOWN DEEP, FOUGHT HARD, AND NEVER GAVE UP.  THIS TEAM HAS A LOT OF CHARACTER AND GOOD LEADERS AND I THINK THIS COULD BE A VERY SUCCESSFUL SEASON FOR THE LIONS.  THEY ARE VERY DRIVEN AND COMMITTED."

THE LIONS HEAD OUT ON THE ROAD FRIDAY NIGHT FOR A WEEKEND CONTEST AGAINST GEORGE MASON AND THEN MEET UP WITH DIVISION RIVALS CAL FOR A MONDAY NIGHT SHOWDOWN.