The Upper Montgomery Lightning lost its season opener 3-2 against the Rockville/Magruder Rams Monday evening at the Laurel Ice Gardens. The Lightning had hoped to begin the season strong and carry momentum from their 4-1-1 finish to the 2020-2021 campaign. But it was not to be. Senior defender Ryan Iliff scored a short-handed goal from long range with 57 seconds left in the third period to win it for the Rams.
It was a tight contest throughout with the Lightning carrying play for long stretches of the game. Rams’ goalie Freddie Horowitz was the first star of the game stopping 32 of 34 shots. He held strong in the third period as the Lightning pressed to take the lead, having three straight power plays in the final ten minutes of the game. At the conclusion of the final power play, Ryan Iliff controlled the puck in the neutral zone, skated toward the bench for a line change and ripped the puck toward the net from just outside the blue line. The shot eluded Lightning goalie Landon Bernard far side to the top corner of the net for the eventual game winner.
The Lightning opened the game strong with stout defense limiting the Rams to only three shots in the first ten minutes of the game. A turnover deep in the Rams defensive zone led to the first goal of the game. Lightning right winger Hunter Cameron pounced on a loose puck at the top of the right circle. He quickly turned and fired a wrist shot to the top left corner of the net beating Horowitz. The unassisted goal giving the Lightning the lead at the 8:30 mark of the first period. The Rams would respond about six minutes later when Lukas Gold scored a power play goal off a feed from Trey Zeren with 42 seconds remaining in the first period.
The second period saw the Lightning dominate for long stretches outshooting the Rams 18 to 6. In the last minute of the period, the Lightning broke the tie as Nathan Cassel buried a nifty pass from Chris Hasset for his first career high school goal. The tally at 14:17 of the second period appeared to give the Lightning momentum and a lead they would look to protect in the third period.
Early in the third period the Rams were staked to their fourth consecutive power play opportunity after a checking from behind minor to Nathan Cassel. It did not take the Rams long to capitalize with Shea Walsh finding the net at 2:36 of the period to knot the game at 2-2. Over the next four minutes the teams settled in and buckled down. Both teams played a tight checking defensive structure preventing any quality chances. From the six-minute mark to the end of the game, the Lightning enjoyed three straight power play opportunities. Although applying pressure to the Rams in the offensive zone, the Lighting were not able to break through and take the lead. Horowitz made timely saves. Other shots from the point or the half wall hit players in front and deflected away. It was at the tail end of the third power play, with a little over a minute left in the game, that an innocent Rams clearing pass into the neutral zone ultimately led to the deciding moment of the game, Ryan Iliff’s shorthanded game winner.
Game Notes:
- Playing in their first high school varsity game for the Lightning were Andrew Botti, Ryan Jacobson, Nathan Cassel, Henry Honacki, and Josh Nadler.
- The Lightning outshot the Rams 34-20.
- Power Plays—Lightning 0-3, Rams 2-4.
- Nathan Cassel had a game high 14 penalty minutes.
- The Lightning are next in action on Friday, October 29th at 10:00 pm facing the Quince Orchard Cougars at Cabin John Ice Rink
Three Stars of the Game:
First Star—Freddie Horowitz #70—Rockville Goalie—Win, 32 saves, .941 save %
Second Star—Ryan Iliff #44—Rockville Defense–Game Winning Short-Handed Goal
Third Star—Hunter Cameron #17—Upper Montgomery Forward—Season Opening Goal