BY JONATHAN SKUZA
GENESEO, N.Y.– Lucas Springer scored a hat trick in a four-point performance as he helped the WFL Panthers win 8-2 over the Geneseo/Avon/Livonia Lakers Thursday evening.
“He’s great and he’s a good teammate,” WFL’s head coach Francis Shaw stated about Springer. “He’s never emotional, he’s always pretty even keel all the way through. So those are some big shoes to fill for sure next year, but he’s been great for us.”
After most of the first period saw the teams feel each other out, the Panthers exploded for three goals in 85 seconds in the last two minutes. Leo Cohrs opened the scoring as he drove between the Laker defensemen and put the puck home. Ryan Allen and Isaac Pundt assisted on the goal. Ryan Brown added the second goal under a minute later off a one-timer fed by Collin Trapiss. Springer got his first goal of the evening with eight seconds to go in the period. Trapiss tallied his second of four assists on the night.
After the Lakers added a powerplay goal early in the second, Springer answered right back with his second of the game six seconds after Geneseo/Avon/Livonia had scored.
Trapiss found the back of the net for a short-handed goal with an assist from Springer. Trapiss finished the night with five points.
“When we moved him up to forward, he’s been terrific,” Shaw stated about Trapiss this season. “He’s filling a different role than he initially thought he’d have. He’s doing a great job.”
Brown scored the lone Panthers powerplay tally of the night with just over five minutes to go in the period. Trapiss and Jack McCormack assisted on the man-advantage goal.
Springer scored a short-handed goal of his own to complete his hat trick performance and record the Panther’s second short-handed goal of the period.
Noah Derleth found the back of the net for his first varsity goal in front of the net. Brown was credited with the assist on the milestone goal.
Goaltender Seth Taylor made 23 saves for the Panthers.
“Seth has had a breakout year,” Shaw said about his goaltender’s performance. “He’s our rock back there now for sure and we’re proud of him.”
Jack Ruter scored the powerplay goal for the Lakers in early in the second period. Fletcher Kingsbury assisted on the man-advantage goal. Joey Cinquino scored a late goal in the third period. Ryan O’Duffy and Ruter assisted on the goal.
The Panthers avenged an earlier 6-4 defeat to the Lakers on December 13. The two teams split the season series.
The WFL Panthers (7-9-0) will continue their road trip as they will travel to take Iroquois Central on February 4.
Geneseo/Avon/Livonia (3-15-0) will continue its home stand as they welcome Spartan Hockey on February 7.
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