Akwesasne - The defending champion Akwesasne Warriors hosted the FHL leading New Jersey Outlaws last night at the Anowarako:wa Arena neither team disappointed last night as 15 pucks found twine in what was a wild affair from the beginning.
The Warriors came out physical as always looking to dictate the intensity but New Jersey showed up to score. The Outlaws came out and created chance after chance as Warrior players gave up position to make the hits. It all started with a pinch by Simon Desormeaux looking to finish his check left Jeremy Van Hoof to face a two on one and NJ made it count local Brett Liscomb scores assisted by Anthony Battaglia and Gentry Zollars three minutes into the game to take a 1-0. The Warriors shortly after head to the powerplay but it doesn't matter as the counter attack of the Outlaws leads to a shorthanded goal as Zollars buries it from John Goffredo and Battaglia. Long Sault native Brett Liscomb strikes again as the potent line of Goffredo and Battaglia light the lamp to make it 3-0 in favor of the Outlaws. A little over a minute later and former Montreal Canadien Pierre Dagenais bangs in his first goal of the game from Carter Trevisani and Addison Pelkey. Not long after Craig Cole goes off for elbowing and the Outlaws counter the Warriors powerplay leading to a Kevin Cooper shorthanded goal from captain Travis Kauffeldt and Dan Mercier at 13:17. at 18:48 Kauffeldt finds the score sheet again with a goal from Jason Reese and Dan Mcwhinney to close out what was a one sided first period that looked as though there was a rout brewing. 5-1 at the end of the first period.
David Plouffe gets the hook to start the second after allowing five goals on 12 shots. Backup and Akwesasne native Adam Thompson comes in to take the reins. The Warriors come out flying and NJ looks a little off. At 3:15 Pierre Dagenais with a snipe that makes it 5-2 from Wahsontiio Stacey and Kris McCarthy. A couple minutes later Dagenais does it again bangs it in from Nicolas Corbeil and Sylvain Deschatelets to make it 5-3. The Outlaws start to pick it up and tighten up as they realise you can't win a game in the first period. The Warriors are pressing the action until a turnover in the defensive zone leaves John Goffredo to put the puck past Thompson from Matt Puntureri and Kevin Martel. Martin Beaulne answers in the dying minutes of the period with a goal to make it 6-4 from Simon Desormeaux and Kris McCarthy. 6-4 heading into the third and the Warriors are making it a game now.
The third begins with some great back and forth action as the Warriors are relishing a comeback until the Outlaws get a chance and they make it count Kevin Cooper from Kauffeldt and Jason Reese at 6:55. Shortly after Nicolas Corbeil takes a bad penalty and the Outlaws strike again this time on the powerplay to make it 8-4 Outlaws on a goal by Puntureri assists by the beard, Nathan Oke and Goffredo. The Warriors just wouldn't quit though and made it a fight to the finish on an excellent end to end by Carter Trevisani who splits the D and and scores on McWhinney. I can't heap enough praise on Trevisani for this goal it was a true beauty. Trevisani would strike again minutes later to pull the Warriors within two again after Miguel Delisle got stopped point blank twice by McWhinney but dishes to Trevisani who let a slapshot go to make it 8-6. Outlaws scored on the powerplay to close this one out but an awesome game from both teams.
The old saying you can't win a game in the first but you can lose it rings true in this one. The Warriors play the Outlaws again tonight on the Island and it's going to be another great game so come out and show your support! Tonight marks the return of Ahmed Mahfouz and Paul Shantz from suspensions. A four point night which included a hat-trick sees Pierre Dagenais put up 7 points in the last two games.
Have your say... Who wins tonights game? Will Mahfouz and Shantz's return tip the scales in the Warriors favor or are the New Jersey Outlaws still to much to handle?
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