Hitmen USP3 Roll Over Springfield Pics
Different weekend, but the same result - a Hitmen sweep. The Hitmen victimized the Pics with 25 goals in two games – landing a 9-1 win on Saturday and a 16-2 victory on Sunday. The boys in blue have scored 34 times in their first four games (8.5 average per game).
On Saturday, the Hitmen started quickly, striking twice in the opening ten minutes on goals from Bret Shaffer and Evan Hoey. Hunter Kronk would make it 3-0 with just over a minute to play in the first.
The barrage continued in the second as Brendan Buckley, Danny Cangelosi and Hoey would each score pushing the Hitmen lead to 6-0. After a Pics’ goal 7:30 into the third frame, the Hitmen responded with three more of their own as Kronk would get his second of the game followed by Eddie Leitgeb and Frank Steffe. The Hitmen were also disciplined as the Pics played the entire game without a power-play.
Alec Vitton made his first career Hitmen start and almost earned a shutout while turning aside 13 shots.
Sunday’s contest was the highest scoring affair in Hitmen Empire/USP3 history. The boys in blue scored 16 times on 64 shots, highlighted by a nine goal second period. Buckley, Cangelosi and Thomas Foschini all scored in the opening frame to post a 3-1 lead. The game became out of reach quickly as the Hitmen scored four times in the first 3:31 of the second period on goals from Daniel Jayson, Anthony Steffe, Shaffer and Foschini.
David Kasabian joined the action 9:10 into the second on a nifty snapshot that beat the goalie on his five hole. Hoey would score again moments later, followed by Foschini (hat trick), Isaac Davison and Buckley.
Leading 12-1 after two, the Hitmen would strike four more times in the third (Hoey twice, Leitgeb, A. Steffe), burying the Pics 16-2. Porth picked up his second win in net, making 13 saves.
The Hitmen lead the USP3 North division at 4-0. They return to action October 3-4 when they visit the Frederick Freeze.