After a disappointing loss to Walter Johnson, the Upper Montgomery Lightning junior varsity team returns to action on Tuesday afternoon versus Wootton. Game time is 4:50 pm at the Laurel Ice Gardens. This will be the second of three straight days of afternoon games for the junior varsity. The team will be looking to bounce back after losing a late lead against the Wildcats. The squad is now 2-2 in league play, and 2-3-1 overall on the season.
As with Monday’s contest, the outcome of the game may come down to three 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 Wootton has struggled to score this season. Lastly, which goalie will be in net for the Patriots, varsity senior AA level netminder Julian Piche or inexperienced Logan Simmons.
In net for the Lightning will be Landon Bernard who will be looking to bounce right back from Monday’s defeat. Bernard’s performance in net will determine the outcome of the game. His strong play of late will need to continue for the Lightning to have an opportunity to win.
On defense the Lightning will likely skate with four defenders. Andrew Gean and Stephen Shkeda will play down from varsity to be a stabilizing influence for young Lightning junior varsity defender Patrick Sell. It is expected that Cole Howerton will miss the game. A rotation of forwards will skate shifts on defense. Pairings are expected to be Gean with Sell and Shkeda with the forward rotation. The defense will be looking to stymie the Patriots forwards who have tallied only 7 goals in 4 games this season.
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 two assists, and then the scoring thins considerably. The Lightning very much need additional depth scoring if they are going to beat Wootton. 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 continue to come away with victories.