Berwick pushes Exeter hard for 2 periods

EXETER, NH -In this final match-up before winter break, Berwick pushed Exeter hard for two periods but fell 5-1 in the end. The second period proved to be the tipping point, with four penalties called on the visiting Bulldogs and none called on Exeter. Berwick's penalty kill played fearless, blocking multiple shots to limit Exeter's opportunities, but playing shorthanded for 8 of 18 minutes makes things difficult.

Berwick played its best period of hockey all season in the first. Byron Welch set the tone early with a big hit behind the Exeter cage, and linemates Jackson Sidford and Keith Jordan kept the puck pinned down in their end. The two teams were evenly matched, with Exeter holding the 12-8 shots advantage, but Berwick struck first. At 14:05 of the period, Exeter took a penalty and the Bulldogs quickly got to work. Jordan helped to dig the puck out on the faceoff and he moved it to Welch, who found senior Sam Twombly at the point. Twombly took a step to the middle a fired one over the outstretched glove of the screened Exeter goalie. 

Exeter was working the puck in the Berwick end early in the second period when they set a pick-play on Tony Cosentino. Unlike basketball, you aren't allowed to set picks, so Cosentino skated through the player, who fell and drew a questionable penalty. On the ensuing powerplay, the Berwick PK kept Exeter on the perimeter for 90 seconds until one breakdown led to a series of passes that resulted in a back door goal. Minutes later, Berwick senior Francesco Pozzi took a feed from Cole Hernon and snapped it just over the crossbar; the crowd was buzzing and enjoying a good battle. Berwick managed to kill off the next two penalties, but couldn't make it the full two minutes against the fourth Exeter powerplay of the period. Exeter scored their second of the period, and went into the intermission with a 2-1 lead.

Berwick came out fighting in the third, matching Exeter stride for stride, but the Big Red's depth proved to be too much. Five minutes into the period, Exeter freshman Garrett Foster led the forecheck, throwing a hard hit and eventually finding fellow freshman Hunter McCoy out front for the goal. This one was a back breaker for the visitors, who only skated 12 players on the night. Exeter scored back-to-back goals at the 14:30 and 15:00 mark of the period to go up 5-1.

While the end result was disappointing, this Berwick team has improved a lot over the 16 days since the Belmont Hill opener. The confidence and effort on display in this game were night and day compared to the Tilton matchup just last Friday. Exeter will likely compete in the Elite 8 this year, and this game will be one that the Berwick boys look back to with pride as they build toward their own post season in the second half.