Akwesasne Fights Back, Earns 4-3 Come From Behind Victory Over New York
March 19, 2011 - Federal Prospects Hockey League (FPHL) News Release
Brooklyn, NY - The New York Aviators came out strong tonight, but gave away an early lead and dropped game one of this best-of-five champion series to the visiting Akwesasne Warriors by a score of 4-3.
Both teams showed why they belong in the championship series from the moment the puck dropped. Akwesasne's Dan Tessier got the scoring underway in the first minute of play, effectively quieting the raucous New York crowd. The Warriors lead would not last long, as Casey Mignone tied things up at 1-1 just a few minutes later. New York would take and hold onto a lead of their own later in the period on two separate power play goals from Matthew Puntereri and Andrew Scampoli. Michael Thomson and K.C Timmons assisted on both goals and the A's took a 3-1 advantage into the first intermission.
The second period was filled with plenty of opportunities for each team, but it was only Akwesasne that took advantage. After fifteen plus minutes of scoreless hockey in the second frame, Carter Trevisani beat A's goaltender Kevin Druce on a beautiful wrister to cut the New York lead to just one. The Aviators defense remained stellar for the rest of the period and the score was 3-2 with just 20 minutes left to play.
Things went south quickly for the Aviators in the final period. Akwesasne's Ahmed Mahfouz scored early in the frame and we were tied again, this time even at 3-3. The Warriors then went ahead on what turned out to be the game winning goal off the stick of Pierre Daegnois with just under 15 minutes remaining in the game. Despite several offensive attacks all the way up to the final horn, the A's could not find the equalizer and came up short in game one of this five game series.
Warrior's goaltender David Plouffe takes the win and moves to 4-1-0 this postseason. Druce did not have his strongest performance tonight and is nabbed with the loss, taking his record this postseason to 3-2-1.
These two teams return to action for Game 2 of this best-of-five series on Sunday evening at the Aviator Sports and Events Center. Puck drop is scheduled for 5:00PM and great tickets are still on sale by logging onto www.newyorkaviators.com, or by calling 718-758-7580. If you cannot make it in, tune into the Aviators' radio network with the pregame show starting at 4:30PM with Carmine Vetrano and Grant Tunkel.
Federal Prospects Hockey League Stories from March 19, 2011
- Akwesasne Fights Back, Earns 4-3 Come From Behind Victory Over New York - FPHL
- A's Come Close in Game One, but Warriors Triumph, 4-3 - Brooklyn Aviators
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