The Falls Church Middle School Ice Hockey Team, coming off of a heart-breaking last minute loss to Landon Middle School on Dec. 9, bounced back to win against the Forest Park Bruins on Friday, Dec. 16 at Kettler Capitals Iceplex in Arlington.
The Mustangs got off to a good start when defenseman Michael Wilson scored 10 minutes into the first period.
The score remained 1-0 throughout the first and second periods, until Forest Park’s Anthony Doonis tied the game with 12 minutes remaining in the third period. Thirty seconds later, however, Mustangs’ defender Andrew Fischer scored to restore the team to another one-goal lead.
Forest Park was penalized for its physical play when they were killing a penalty midway through the third period. Mustang Kayla Ehrlich was racing for a puck in the corner, when she was hit hard from behind by one of Forest Park’s players. She lay on the ice for a minute before she could recover and skate to the bench. There was no injury on the play, but Forest Park was assessed a five-minute major penalty.
Ehrlich would sit out for the rest of the game, but the Mustangs took advantage of the ensuing power play with a goal by forward Jonathan Chin. Forest Park appeared to be within reach of tying the game when they scored with five and a half minutes remaining in the game. Again up by only a goal, the Mustangs were able to respond 90 seconds later with another goal by Andrew Fischer.
Up by two goals, the Mustangs closed it out with a 4-2 win. Mustang goalie Jack MacKinnon stopped 31 of the 33 shots he faced, and the Mustangs had 19 shots on Forest Park goalie Liam Callahan, who stopped all but four of the shots he faced.
The next Mustang game will be against Arlington Middle School at Kettler on Jan. 13 at 7:10 p.m.
