Maryland goaltender Benji Motew stopped all 16 shots he faced, many of them several Grade A saves, to lead the Black Bears to a 2 – 0 win over the visiting Rebels in game one of this two-game series at the Piney Orchard Arena. Despite allowing two goals, none of which were his fault, Philadelphia netminder Beau Lane was equally impressive between the pipes in a very chippy game.
The Rebels were zero for seven on the man advantage.
With 8:01 remaining in the opening period, Maryland’s Maddox Tulacro was called for head contact to give the Rebels the man advantage. With time winding on the powerplay and Maryland pressuring inside the Rebels zone, the Black Bears’ Kareem El Bashir picked up the loose up along the near side half wall and made a centering pass out front that was redirected by Maryland’s Evan Sofikitis and past Lane to give Maryland a 1 – 0 lead. It was eventual game winner.
The Rebels Thomas Neu, Billy Sheridan and Charles Panchisin each had opportunities to put the visitors on the board during the first but were denied by Motew.
With 7:29 remaining in the middle stanza, Lane was called for a delay of game to give Maryland the man advantage. Almost a minute later, the Black Bears doubled their lead on Luke Rubin’s third goal of the season. As Maryland’s Harrison Smith entered the offensive zone and made a pass from the near side faceoff circle through the slot that Rubin one-timed it past Lane to close out the scoing.
Sheridan had a chance to cut the Rebels deficit in half with less than a minute remaining in the second when he was awarded a penalty shot but Sheridan was denied by Motew.
With under a minute remaining in the game and the Rebels seventh powerplay coming to a close, Panchisin took a point-blank shot from the near side faceoff circle but it was turned aside by Motew.
It was Motew’s second shutout of the season while Lane stopped 11 of 13 shots. Click HERE for the complete box score.
