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Reading Rockets escape Red Raiders 3-2
Melrose stands tall against Middlesex League Leaders
Reading- The Melrose Red Raiders turned in a great team effort
limiting the Middlesex League leading Reading Rockets to just three
goals on their home ice in a 3-2 loss at Burbank Arena. Melrose
offense was provided by Junior Mike Darling who scored a pair of goals
in the second period. Once again the Melrose defense corps and Senior
Goaltender Sean Morris played solidly but could not come up with the
equalizer late in the game. The victory for Reading brought their
record to 15-0-1 while the loss eliminated the Melrose squad (4-10-2)
from the MIAA post season play offs for the fourth consecutive season.
Melrose however continues to show signs of improvement and have been a
tough opponent most nights especially in the second half of the
season.
As in most games this season Reading had relied on the offensive
output of their powerful first line of Mike Lozzi, Rob Toczylowski,
and Patrick Kiley and the they delivered once again. The trio was able
to combine for a pair of goals in the first period with Lozzi, the
Middlesex League leading scorer, setting up each of his line mates on
opportunistic plays in front of Melrose goaltender Sean Morris.
Melrose regrouped and contained Reading for stretches with simple
parameter passes and quick chip outs to the neutral zone and some
dumps in plays to the Reading zones.
In period two Mike Darling, who has shown more spark after a shoulder
injury earlier in the second half, was able to score ripping a slap
shot from just inside the left point location through a screen to the
far side by Brett Sweeney in the Reading goal to cut the lead to one.
Later in the period Darling tied the game on the wrist shot in front
to make it 2-2 which frustrated Reading and triggered some physical
play by both squads.
Once Reading took a 3-2 lead in the third period they played Melrose
very tight and did not relinquish it. Melrose skated valiantly but
could not get the scoring opportunity they needed in the final
minutes. Reading played without the services of defenseman Quinlan
Junta. Star defenseman Travis Busch who was out of the line up in the
first meeting of the year against Melrose played a strong game dishing
out some solid body checks in the neutral zone. The Red Raiders showed
poise against Reading and should take some confidence into their
rematch against Stoneham at home on Saturday February 9th at 1:00PM at
Flynn Rink.
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