LSI penalty killers do the job against CBA

La Salle Institute junior goalkeeper Brett Bernardo displays his form while making a save during Saturday's game against Christian Brothers Academy at the Albany County Hockey Facility. La Salle won, 5-2, by killing 11 of 12 CBA power plays. (Top three photos by Mike McMahon - The Record).

The Cadets can't find a way to keep out of the penalty box, just like last week's game against Saratoga Springs, in which they committed 13 penalties. This time, however, the La Salle penalty kill came through, lifting the Cadets to a CDHSHL victory over the Brothers.

La Salle junior center Alex Verchereau scores a first period goal past CBA goalkeeper Zach Baron. CBA's David Wilgocki (15) defends on the play.

Sophomore forward Matt Wagner added the game-winning and insurance goals later in the game. The Verchereau-Wagner-Nolan Crowley line is beginning to produce for La Salle, thanks in large part to a defensive challenge posed by La Salle head coach Tim Flanigan.

The line had allowed too many goals and Flanigan asked them to focus first on defense, telling them that the goals would come. The line has not had a goal scored against them in the last three games and they've lit up the scoreboard in the last two.

"If you play good defense and you get turnovers, you get scoring chances off of transition," Flanigan said. "They can do it, they just have to come together and cover up each other’s mistakes and help out."

Brett Bernardo (31) is spun around as CBA's Casey Hladik is pushed away by a La Salle defender during Saturday's game. CBA twice tied the game in the second period, but a pair of goals from Matt Wagner sealed the game for La Salle.

Steve Basile scored CBA's two goals and Zach Baron and Ryan Ward combined to make 29 saves in net for the Brothers.

There was plenty of hard-hitting in the open ice between both sides, something I would chalk up to the long-standing rivalry between the schools. It was a pretty entertaining game, especially because CBA practically always had an opportunity on the power play and the Cadets never really felt confident with the lead until an empty net goal in the final minute.

Matt Wagner (14) is about to score the game-winning goal in the second period of Saturday's CDHSHL game against CBA. (Photo submitted by Mark Wagner)