West Chester, PA – The West Chester Wolves showed determination but fell just short in a thrilling 4-3 overtime loss to the P.A.L. Junior Islanders at PNY Sports Arena on January 4, 2025. Despite strong performances from both teams, the Wolves were unable to fend off a late surge by the Islanders.
The game remained scoreless through the first period, with both teams feeling each other out and the goaltenders, Griffin Davis for West Chester and Ethan Ramonetti for P.A.L., setting the tone early.
The Wolves broke the deadlock early in the second period when Alec Alfieri buried a shot at 3:45, assisted by Owen Norman and Maddox Goudie. However, the Islanders answered at 14:41, with Trey Wandall scoring off feeds from Devin Niles and Carson Nickulas.
West Chester regained momentum in the third period. Bryan Weissler scored on the power play at 7:33, capitalizing on a perfect setup from Brayden Sprickman and Emil Szepesi. Just under two minutes later, captain Harrison Kinne extended the Wolves' lead, assisted by Nico Pasquale and Goudie. The Islanders responded quickly, with Aiden Holland and Arthur Mirante scoring to even the game at 3-3 by 15:42.
The Wolves pushed the Islanders to overtime in a fierce NCDC battle at PNY Sports Arena tonight but fell 4-3.
— West Chester Wolves Hockey (@WC_Wolves) January 5, 2025
⚡️ Alfieri, Weissler, and Kinne score
🛑 53-save performance from Davis
📰 https://t.co/G8hqdYoJpQ pic.twitter.com/bo5ApG6Veo
Overtime began with both teams eager to secure the extra point, but it was the Islanders' Ryan McKenna who sealed the win just 43 seconds into the period, finishing a play set up by Mirante and Nickulas.
Goaltending Duel
The game featured a spectacular goaltending battle. Griffin Davis was a standout for the Wolves, making 53 saves, including several critical stops under heavy pressure. Ramonetti matched him with 31 saves, keeping the Islanders in the game during key moments.
Key Takeaways
The Wolves showed resilience in battling back from a tied second period to take the lead in the third, but discipline and a late Islanders' push ultimately proved decisive. A standout effort from Davis kept West Chester in contention, and the team’s power-play goal was a highlight in an otherwise penalty-heavy affair.
