U-32 forward Lucas Eldred is tripped up from behind by a Woodstock defender during the second period of Saturday’s game. (Bradley Smart Photo)
In a matchup of two top-tier Division II teams, Woodstock got the better of U-32 in a physical, back-and-forth game. The Wasps (12-3) used a two-goal second period to drop the Raiders (8-7-1), fighting off a ferocious comeback effort in the waning minutes.
Woodstock opened the scoring midway through the first period when sophomore forward Luc Issa cashed in on a nifty breakaway effort off of a good find from Braden McCarthy. Two minutes later, U-32 forward Lucas Eldred equalized.
Both teams locked down defensively over the next 12 minutes, trading blows and shots up against the glass. Woodstock amped up the pressure on U-32 goalie Connor Carbo, and it paid off. Two of the 14 shots that the Wasps fired on goal in the second period found their mark, and both came off the stick of senior forward William Gault.
Gault tallied his first goal came with 7:26 left in the period, as he picked off a U-32 clear on the far post and backhanded it past Carbo. He added his second four minutes later from long-range, lifting a shot over Carbo from near the blue line. Both goals were assisted by teammate Connor McCarthy.
The teams, who combined for eight penalties, swapped power-play chances but neither converted. However, Eldred scored a late goal —with just over six minute remaining — to slice the deficit down to one goal with plenty of time left on the clock.
U-32 picked up momentum down the stretch. The Raiders fired 16 shots on Wasps goalie Conner Black in the third, but Black blanked them when his team called on him. The sophomore goaltender finished with 31 saves.
Carbo stopped 21 shots in the loss. The Raiders will travel to play Burr & Burton (6-6-1) on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m.
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