The Upper Montgomery Lightning junior varsity team returns to action on Monday afternoon versus Walter Johnson after Sunday’s game versus Northwest was rescheduled for late January. Game time is 4:00 pm at Wheaton Ice Rink. This will be the first of three straight days of afternoon games for the junior varsity and will help identify how close to the top of the conference standings the team will climb. Coming off of a big victory over Quince Orchard/Sherwood’s combined team, the Lightning are now 2-1 in league play, and 2-2-1 overall on the season. Currently in fourth place in the league standings, the junior varsity will be looking for a lot of points this week to advance up the league standings.
The outcome of the game may come down to two factors. First, which student athletes from both teams are available to play due to the recent uptick in COVID cases in Montgomery County. Second, how well does Upper Montgomery clamp down defensively as Walter Johnson has struggled to score this season, with only two goals scored in their first three games. Inexperienced Becca Freda has been solid in net thus far for the Wildcats.
In net for the Lightning will be Landon Bernard, coming off two consecutive victories over Quince Orchard/Sherwood and recently his first career varsity victory against the West Virginia Vipers. Bernard’s performance in net the past few games has been key to Upper Montgomery coming away with victories. He will need to continue his strong play in goal once again for the Lightning to win.
On defense the Lightning will likely skate with four defenders. George Benedick will play down from varsity to be a stabilizing influence for the young Lightning junior varsity defense of Patrick Sell and Cole Howerton. It is anticipated that a rotation of forwards will skate some shifts on defense. Pairings are expected to be Benedick with Sell and Howerton with the forward rotation. The defense will be looking to stymie the Wildcat forwards. Thus far on the season, excluding the Landon non-conference game, the Lightning have limited the opposition to a paltry two goals a game.
Offensively, the Lightning are getting just enough scoring. Josh Miller leads the team with four goals. Josh Nadler who is likely to miss the games this week has scored three goals. Brandon Bernard has two goals, and then the scoring thins considerably. The Lightning very much need additional depth scoring if they are going to beat Walter Johnson. The young Lightning squad should not be overconfident. The team needs to play as they have been in the early games of the season to be successful and come away with victories.