ATTLEBORO – Balanced scores for balanced records for the Tropics and Boston Jr. Blues ’03 as the two met on Saturday at the New England Sports Village. They played to a 3-3 draw, leaving both teams with a preliminary round record of 1-1-1.
Compared to some thus far in the tournament, the scoring was low in this contest. Goaltenders Ryan Rosenau and Aidan Tibbetts for the Tropics, and Al Finta and Arthur Smith for the Blue thwarting many of the challenges the opposition threw their way.
There was just one goal to be had in the game’s first half and it was credited to Will Friedman at 16:06, giving the Blue a 1-0 lead at the break.
Boston wasted little time expanding on that lead as Rishi Laird scored just after the opening face-off to make it 2-0. A shorty by Brian Lavin and a goal for Will Kelleher brought the game back to even for the Tropic, but a second of the contest by Laird near the middle of the frame had the Blues back on top once again, 3-2.
On the verge of a Blues victory, however, the Tropics made one last push late. A goal by Shane Carr brought the score to 3-3, but with just 41-seconds remaining, there was little time left for either team to break the knot. The game finished in that 3-3 deadlock.
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