In a contest that had everything from early fireworks to a dramatic overtime finish, the Beverly Bullies JR fell 4-3 to Force United in a wild, back-and-forth affair. The first period alone was a chaotic masterpiece, featuring three goals in just under six minutes of game time. Beverly struck first at the 11:37 mark when Asher Ammann (#27) found the back of the net, with assists from Cashlin Edwards (#28) and Noah Hagen (#68). Force United responded quickly at 6:50, as Xavier Medeiros (#50) evened the score with helpers from Sam Mckeown (#19) and Riley Rankin (#10). But the Bullies refused to be outdone, with Joshua Cymbaluk (#67) reclaiming the lead just a minute later at 5:45, set up by Cohen Soetaert (#44). A late penalty to Asher Hagen (#7) left the Bullies shorthanded, but they carried a 2-1 edge into the intermission.
The game settled into a tense defensive battle in the second period, with neither team able to break through. However, the third period exploded with a flurry of action. Beverly extended its lead at 8:40 when Noah Hagen (#68) scored, assisted by Tearin McKeigue (#22), putting the Bullies up 3-1 and seemingly in control. But Force United refused to quit. A high-sticking penalty to Maxx George (#16) at the 2:50 mark gave the visitors a crucial power play, and they capitalized instantly. Just two seconds later, at 2:48, Isaac Angele (#51) ripped a shot home, with Riley Rankin (#10) earning the assist, cutting the lead to 3-2. Then, with the game on the line and time winding down, Force United pulled off a stunning short-handed goal at the 0:16 mark. Joseph Fikkert (#17) tied the game, stunning the home crowd and sending the contest to overtime.
The extra frame was a tense, back-and-forth affair, but it was Xavier Medeiros (#50) who became the hero once more for Force United. At the 1:37 mark of the 4-on-4 overtime period, Medeiros netted his second goal of the game, with assists from Torin Gray (#70) and, incredibly, goaltender Zachary DiBerardino (#25), who earned a primary assist on the game-winner. DiBerardino was outstanding in net for Force United, recording a staggering 37 saves on the night despite facing 23 shots in the first period alone, a performance that earned him the win. On the other side, Brandon Lirondelle (#31) made 37 saves of his own for the Bullies, keeping his team in the game until the very end, but it wasn't enough to overcome Force United's relentless third-period surge. The loss was a heartbreaking one for Beverly, who saw a two-goal lead evaporate in the final minutes of regulation.
U13 BRONCOS
