For the second consecutive Friday night, Marriotts Ridge knocked off a previously undefeated opponent. Last Friday it was Atholton, and this Friday, at the Gardens Ice House in Laurel, the Mustangs used a third-period surge to defeat Long Reach, 6-2, and gain the inside track to the county championship.
"I really like the way they're coming together," coach Chip Sheehan said. "It was the greatest possible outcome."
Marriotts Ridge celebrated its senior night on Jan. 13, and appropriately, the seniors led the way to victory over Long Reach.
Kyle Davis (goal, three assists), Daniel Beschner (two goals), Matt McNutt (goal, assist) and T.J. Clingerman (goal, assist), all seniors, recorded multiple points for the Mustangs in the win. Seniors Troy Dunkle, Kyler Barrett and James Martinson chipped in with assists, and senior Alex Sokich also scored a goal.
"It's pretty awesome, because we've got a lot of good talent on the team. All the guys are scoring which is cool," Davis said. "We all pass because we know the other guys are going to put it in."
The game was closer than the final score would indicate.
Long Reach's Jansen Earle, assisted by Jarek Milauskas, scored with less than two minutes left in the first period to tie the game at 1-1 heading into the second period.
Then, after Marriotts Ridge — the defending county champion — took the lead on McNutt's goal early in the second, Lightning senior defenseman Jeff Dudley scored on a wrist shot assisted by Milauskas to again knot the game up, 2-2.
With less than three minutes left in that period, Sokich struck on a put back, and the Mustangs were able to wear down the short-handed Lightning in the third period, scoring three unanswered goals.
Marriotts Ridge has more than 20 players on its roster while Long Reach has about ten.
"They're the class of the league right now," Long Reach coach Ray Byrne said. "We have a lot of good players but we didn't get it done tonight. Hopefully we'll see them again ... we have what we have, and the group that we have I think can get the job done if we get a chance to see them again (in the playoffs)."
Marriotts Ridge sophomore goalkeeper Dylan Schoen made 27 saves, while Long Reach senior Josh Fleming had 22.
Last Friday night, the Mustangs took care of previously undefeated Atholton, 3-1.
Long Reach and Atholton will face off on Monday, Jan. 23, in what could be a battle for second place, and then the Raiders will also see Marriotts Ridge again on Feb. 3, the last day of the regular season.
