The Orchard Park Quakers and Timon Tigers Fed Hockey teams faced off at Harborcenter earlier Monday night, and after 3 hard fought periods, the Quakers came away with a 3-1 victory to improve to a 3-2 record.
The Quakers started off hot, with Ryan Licursi scoring a goal just after one minute passed in the first. For the rest of the first period, both teams strengthened up on defense and didn’t allow any more goals throughout the remainder of the first, leaving it a 1-0 OP game. Coming into the second period, the Timon Tigers came out firing with a goal from Tommy English to tie the game at 1-1. However, this didn’t faze the Quakers, as they came out with back-to-back goals from Aidan Hughes and Aiden Jones, who scored the game winner. Both teams faced countless shots on net for the rest of the game, but the score remained 3-1 Orchard Park after the third period.
Aidan Hughes, Aiden Jones, Ryan Licursi, Owen Hughes, Bryson Miller, and Jack Schmelzinger were key components for the Quakers offense Monday night. Orchard Park goalie Ryan Albert had a phenomenal outing. Albert faced 37 shots, and saved 36 of them, only allowing one goal. Albert won player of the game, and after an electric performance, Albert said it was his senior season that motivated him. He also credited his teammates.
“Ya know, this is my senior season,” Albert said. “This is it for me. I got to lay everything on the line and take every game with the same intense approach and be focused. The boys also helped me out with clearing pucks in front of the net and it ended up well.”
Quakers Coach Josh Dannecker mentioned multiple positives from the teams outing tonight, including certain players who stepped up when needed.
“Albert was a huge key throughout the game in net,” Dannecker said. “The other thing was that we were able to get our guys to go battle in front of Timon’s net, with Aiden Jones getting the goal by crashing the net, which then lead to the goal.”
The Orchard Park Quakers come out of Harborcenter victorious and face off against St. Francis on January 2, at Leisure Rinks.