The rivalry between Lancaster and Clarence was only fueled by last year’s playoffs, when it was Clarence who ended Lancaster’s season. As the two teams faced off on Saturday afternoon, the Legends wanted to avoid another loss to Clarence, and last year’s game was in the backs of all of their minds as they defeated Clarence 1-0.
The lone goal of Saturday’s game didn’t come until the third period, when Zach Fischer finally broke the scoreless tie with 12 minutes remaining in the game. Lancaster goaltender Sean Lenhard made 21 saves to earn the shutout win.
“It was a hard fought game,” Lenhard said. “I definitely wanted to win this game because they knocked us out of the playoffs last year. I didn’t want a repeat of that, so I wanted this one.”
“We played them the last couple years in the playoffs,” Fischer explained. “We didn’t make out, but we just wanted to come out there and battle, and [Lenhard] played a [heck] of a game, and we won.”
Lancaster coach Kevin Miller has come to expect close games between the two teams. He is also well aware of the rivalry between not only the two schools, but individual players as well. Saturday’s result was no surprise to him.
“It’s always a good rivalry,” Miller said. “A lot of the boys, they all play against each other in their travel leagues, so they’re all aware of each other. And every time we play them, it’s usually a one-goal game that could go either way. And they knocked us out of the playoffs last year, so I know the guys that were on the team last year, they were certainly hungry to face off against them today, so fortunately it worked out for us.”
The win was just Lancaster’s second league win of the season, but each game has been close. Once Lancaster lost a 2-0 lead, and twice the Legends almost came back in the third period.
“That’s just the nature of the league this year,” Miller said. “You’ve got a lot of really good teams, and it’s tough to take some of those losses when you play well, but as long as we’re playing really well at the end of the season, that’s what really matters.”
Fischer’s third period goal put some frustrations to rest as the Legends finally broke through to win the game that Fischer described as a battle.
“It was just a battle: we were taking penalties left and right, each team, just coincidentals and stuff, and we just continued to work, and we scored,” Fischer said. “It was a good play to get it to the net. It bounced out in front of me, I just turned around and fired a shot on net, and it bounced in.”
Lenhard’s shutout was an important part of Saturday’s game as well, and although he credited his defense for making his job easier, it was a confidence booster for Lenhard as well.
“I didn’t have too many shots; that’s why I got the shutout, I guess, but defense played well, so I give it to them,” Lenhard said. “That was nice. I haven’t really found my game yet this year. I hope this helped me.”
“Goaltending was outstanding today for us,” Miller said. “Sean Lenhard played a great game. We were hoping to put the puck in the net a little bit earlier in the game, but it didn’t work out that way, but at least the guys found a way to win. And like I said, they’re a good team, they’re a tough team to play up against, and their goalie, he had a really good game as well.”
While it was Fischer who showed up on the stat sheet, along with Jeff Coons and Mathieu Rachiele with the assists on the goal, Miller was quick to mention Coons’ and other players’ contributions off the stat sheet as well. Fischer’s goal was scored on the power play after Brandon Ruffner drew a penalty against Clarence’s Nick Amodio.
“We had really good defense today from Don Horbett and Ryan Szczecinski, and Jeff Coons,” Miller said. “There was a lot of other guys that really did a good job out there in terms of drawing penalties. Brandon Ruffner, he drew a penalty for us to get the game winner, so it’s nice to see guys like that contribute. Not so much on the stat sheet, but they certainly did their part.”
Starting off the new year — and the unofficial start of the second half of the season — with a win was a nice confidence boost for the Legends. Miller enjoyed watching his team react to the win.
“It’s nice to get any win in this league, so to be able to come back to the locker room and see the boys celebrate, it’s always nice,” he said.
“We’re trying to bounce back here in the second half of the season,” Fischer said. “We think it’s a good confidence builder, and we should do well from here on in, I think.”