After a thrilling overtime victory over Simsbury three days earlier, the West Haven hockey team was looking to extend its heroics. Instead, the Westies suffered a bitter defeat.
Using a goal just over five minutes into the third period, Guilford rallied to defeat West Haven, 5-4, at the DiLungo Rink in East Haven Saturday afternoon. With the loss, West Haven fell to 4-3 on the season.
West Haven took a 1-0 lead 4 minutes, 42 seconds into the contest when Kaden Morgillo scored off an assist from Richie Greene. Guilford scored the next two goals, but sophomore Nick Boanno scored seconds later to even the contest at two.
In a game which would go back and forth the rest of the way, Guilford took a 2-1 lead 1:18 into the second, before Niko Kyle evened the game at three off an assist from Kevin Moriarty with 8:27 left in the middle period.
The Indians scored 1:50 later to take a 4-3 advantage to the third period, but West Haven got the equalizer 1:24 into the third when Robbie Forleo scored off an assist from Kyle. Guilford would end the back and forth affair with the last goal of the game with 9:45 remaining.
Jared Pliszka made 27 saves in the loss for West Haven.
The West Haven hockey team entered the Guilford contest on a high note after it showed plenty of resiliency Wednesday evening. Not only did the Westies have to travel to the Westminster School to play Simsbury, but they found themselves down early.
Trailing by two goals, West Haven rallied for a pair of third period goals, then used an overtime tally by Morgillo to defeat Simsbury 3-2. With the win, the Westies improved to 4-2 on the season.
Trailing 2-0, the Westies got on the scoreboard 3:18 into the third when freshman D.J. Carfora scored off an assist from fellow freshman Nico Bruneau. The game would remain that way until the final two minutes.
Looking at a difficult loss, Carfora set up Kyle and the senior did the rest, evening the game with 1:59 left in regulation. The Westies then decided the contest in the extra session.
At the 48 second mark of overtime, Morgillo sent the Westies home winners and with their fourth victory of the season. Pliszka was solid in goal as he made 33 saves in the win for West Haven.
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