Pozzi makes his mark

DOVER, NH -It wasn't quite the home opener the Bulldogs were hoping for, as they fell to Hoosac 5-2. Berwick is still working out the kinks, with three senior defensemen showing their leadership by trying their hands at the center position. Anyone in attendance tonight saw center Francesco Pozzi gain some confidence as he buried two snap shots on Hoosac goalie, Sam Mix.

It was a quiet first period with both teams sharing a few scoring opportunities. Matt Kenneally made a few key saves to keep things knit at 0-0. Berwick iced the puck late in the period, and on the ensuing drop Tony Cosentino had his stick slashed from his hands, resulting in a 2 on 1 in front. Mikael Vallerand deposited the puck in the back of the net with 17 seconds remaining in the first.

The second period featured most of the action starting with Pozzi at the 6-minute mark. The Bulldogs collected a Hoosac turnover and got to work up the ice with linemates Tucker Smith and Jack Merecki moving the puck up to Pozzi on the right side. Pozzi found himself just inside the top of the circle and rifled one a foot off the ice to the far post. Mix had no chance; 1-1 game. Hoosac got one back five minutes later to make it 2-1, then Berwick took back-to-back boarding and tripping penalties, giving Hoosac a 5 on 3 for 1:24. At the very end of the powerplay, Benjamin Viens slotted one home for Hoosac, giving them a 3-1 lead.

But Pozzi wasn't done. An exchange student from Trento, Italy, Pozzi spent his first year in the states playing for Dover High School (Dover, NH). He gave his former teammates, who were warming up for their own game, something to cheer for, as he beat Mix low glove for his second of the game. Assists went to Jackson Sidford and Merecki. In back-to-back periods, however, Berwick broke the 2-minute rule, letting their foe score with only 1:02 left in the second on a rebound in front.

The Bulldogs didn't go without a fight, as they brought their best effort in the third. Sam Twombly started to find his stride, and Jake Smith showed a relentless work ethic in his first Varsity time. In the end, Hoosac scored an empty netter, resulting in a 5-2 loss. The Bulldogs look to right the ship early next week before headed north to play a much-improved NYA squad.