A four-goal third quarter provided the boost Carlisle needed in its duel with the Hempfield Black Knights en route to an 11-6 victory. With the win, Thundering Herd head coach Steve Kidder marked his 100th career win.
Carlisle got out of the gates quickly opening a 3-0 lead in the first five minutes of the game. Senior Chris Fowler tallied his first of six goals on the night at the 9:25 mark of the first quarter.
About a minute later, Matt Quattrone found an open Fowler who slipped one past Hempfield goalie Bryan Zimmerman. Hunter Scott notched the third goal for the Thundering Herd at the 7:17 mark before forcing Hempfield into a timeout.
The Black Knights used the timeout to make some adjustments, and shortly later Zack Ward began the effort to pull Hempfield back into the game with a goal at the 4:07 mark. Ward continued his press and found the back of the net again before the end of the quarter to pull Hempfield to within one.
Hempfield opened the second quarter with a goal by Matt Senft, but Carlisle’s Fowler responded very quickly to take back the lead, 4-3, at the 7:30 mark. The Black Knights Nick Valentino got the game knotted at 4-4 at the 5:10 mark, but again Fowler answered back, giving Carlisle a 5-4 half-time lead.
Carlisle found itself man-down to start the third quarter, and Hempfield took advantage of the opportunity as Valentino rip in the opening minute tied the game again. However, it would be the last time Hempfield challenged the Thundering Herd with a tight game as Carlisle would go on a 4-0 scoring run over the course of the next six minutes.
Jon Mundell got the Carlisle scoring streak started off an assist from Scott at the 8:56 mark. Quattrone put the biscuit in the oven next off a Fowler dish with 7:09 left in the third. Scott notched the next goal, beating the Hempfield defense at the 6:51 mark. Fowler kept the scoring drive alive about three minutes later off a Scott assist to give the Thundering Herd a 9-5 lead.
Valentino’s hat trick with 1:55 left in the quarter stopped the bleeding for the Black Knights, but Hempfield would go scoreless for the remainder of the game.
Fowler extended the Carlisle lead early in the final quarter off a Drew Amsley assist, while Quattrone finalized the Thundering Herd scoring in the final minute of play to help his team to an 11-6 final score.
Carlisle dominated face-offs with Mundell winning 11 of 12, while Colin Wallace grabbed 4 of 5. In addition, Mundell had six groundballs, while Wallace had four. In addition, Carlisle outshot Hempfield, 36-22.
Hunter Barrick’s solid goalie play included 12 saves for Carlisle, while defenders Sid Ewell, Avery Morrow, David DeSario, Jon McMullin, and Robert Lamont limited the Black Knights shooting opportunities. Hempfield goalie Zimmerman made three saves on the night.
Carlisle (12-1) hosts State College on May 2 in a Mid Penn match-up. Hempfield (11-5) returns to Lancaster-Lebanon League action when the Black Knights host Garden Spot on Tuesday.