Pittsford Makes Finals for 4th Straight Year

May 26, 2017 -  SPORTSFIVE REPORT:  Top seeded Pittsford defeated fourth seeded Hilton 13-5 in the first of the two back-to-back Semi-Final matchups played at Webster Thomas.  The game was a close for the first half, before Pittsford scored five unanswered in the third quarter and pulled ahead.  The Cadets scored the final goal of the game, but Pittsford scored eight unanswered goals, spanning the second through fourth quarters.  Pittsford advances to the Finals for the sixth time in eight years (2 wins in 2015 and 2011; 3 losses in 2016, 2014 and 2010).

Pittsford started off strong with the first two goals.  Sonny Imburgia scored the game opener with a dodge from the right goal line.  Just over 30 seconds later, Brennan Mooney scored with a similar drive from the other side.  Hilton’s opener came off a loose ball just off the crease.  Adam Wuest took a shot at the goal that was saved; the loose ball was grabbed by Max Chamberlain and put in across the crease.  Pittsford’s Gavin Catalano finished the game with 7 saves.  The score stayed within one for three minutes before Pittsford scored on a similar loose ball.  Colby Barker took the first shot before Imburgia grabbed the loose ball and finished into the back of the net.  Hilton’s Jacob VanWuychuyse also recorded 7 saves.  The Cadets finished out the quarter with 2 more goalies to tie the game 3-3 after 12 minutes.  Ben Mitrano scored on an outside shot during man-up to pull within one.  The game tying goal was scored with 0:29 remaining and began with a strong defensive take from Ethan Mann.  Mann had a very strong game defensively and finished with and 2 takes.  The ball was cleared upfield and Matthew Gouger scored unassisted with an outside shot.

Pittsford started off the second quarter the same way as the first with back to back goals.  Less than a minute into the quarter, Barker scored his second goal with a drive straight down the middle.  The score remained within one for the next six minutes before Pittsford scored again.  John Galbraith scored with a mid-range dodge and a shot from the left flat.  Hilton kept the game close with the next goal.  Jordan DePetres drove down the field and took a range shot that pulled them back within one.  The final goal of the half was scored by Pittsford with Connor Fitzgerald dropping a feed from the top to Mooney on the crease.  Pittsford led 6-4 at the half.

In the third, Pittsford exploded with five unanswered goals.  Barker scored two and assisted a third.  Jeremy Jacob, Mooney and John Mozrall scored the other goals.  The Panthers increased their lead to 11-4.  They continued to increase their lead in the fourth with two more goals.  Both goals were scored by John Avery.  Hilton finished out the scoring with DePetres scoring with an outside shot.