Story by Brock Ormond
Photo: Amy Deroche/OJHL Images
Home ice advantage in the Battle of Quinte Southeast Conference Final has officially been broken.
Edward Moskowitz and Matheson Mason’s three points and 28 saves from Jacob Osborne drew the Wellington Dukes back even in the series with a 4-1 victory on Saturday in Trenton over the Golden Hawks.
The Dukes and Golden Hawks had a chippy first frame, with some animosity carried over from a hard-fought first contest at Lehigh Arena three nights prior.
Late in a powerplay, Mason put the first mark on the board, knocking down a missed Jacob Vreugdenhil chance and deking out Ben Bonisteel at 9:34 for his third of the postseason.
Moskowitz added the secondary assist as a precursor to two later offensive contributions.
The back-and-forth play continued into the second, but Wellington got a key goal at the 5:07 mark of the frame from Luke Strickland.
The Keswick, Ont. native moved into sole possession of first in playoff goals for the Dukes this postseason with eight, wiring a high, hard wrister off Bonisteel’s glove and in.
JH Lages and Ryan Cutler drew the assists.
At 6:46, Zev Podolski fluttered home a shot blocker-side to cut into the Dukes lead, but Trenton couldn’t muster any more offence against a sterling defensive wall posted by Wellington.
Moskowitz buried two goals in 16 seconds early in the third period to chase Bonisteel from the net at 5:05 and 5:21, with Luke LaPalm and Mason drawing assists on both markers.
Belleville’s Ethan Fraser steered aside all three shots he faced in relief to keep the score the same.
The Dukes outshot Trenton 33-29 to even the series at one game apiece going back to Prince Edward County for Game 3 on Easter Monday at 7:30 p.m.
The game, along with the rest of the series, can be seen on Your TV Quinte Channels 4/700 for those with Cogeco cable.
