The West Chester Wolves Premier team earned a hard-fought 4-1 victory over the P.A.L. Junior Islanders in a physical contest at PNY Sports Arena.
First Period: Early Momentum
The Wolves wasted no time capitalizing on a power-play opportunity early in the first period. Captain Andrew Farley opened the scoring at 5:39, assisted by Brayden Webster and goaltender Elijah Wiltshire. The Wolves maintained pressure throughout the period, while Wiltshire stood tall in net to keep the Islanders off the board.
Second Period: Offensive Spark
The Wolves extended their lead in the second period with a brilliant goal from Jacob Emmanuel, who finished off a setup from Nathan Lavallee and Finn McGolrick at 4:48. Emmanuel struck again just five minutes later at 9:55, this time with an assist from Drew McCandless, pushing the Wolves ahead 3-0.
The Islanders found life late in the period, converting on a power play at 19:25 when James Clifford scored with assists from Joe Sousa and Peter Labos. Despite the goal, Wiltshire continued to deliver key saves, ensuring the Wolves held a 3-1 lead heading into the final frame.
Third Period: Sealing the Deal
The game grew increasingly physical in the third period, with both teams exchanging penalties, including a misconduct call against Gordon Shindelman. Despite the Islanders’ push, Lavallee sealed the victory with an empty-net goal at 19:12, assisted by McGolrick, bringing the final score to 4-1.
Defensive Effort and Key Saves
Wiltshire was a standout for the Wolves, making 27 saves and controlling the pace of play. The Wolves’ penalty kill was strong, limiting the Islanders to a single power-play goal despite five penalties.
