Lehigh University
United States Naval Academy
Ice Hockey Team Reaches Final of ECHA Playoffs
2/29/2016 1:44:00 PM | Men's Ice Hockey (ACHA D1)
The team loses to Navy 3-2 in the final
The Mountain Hawks made a great showing in the ECHA playoffs to close out the season. After receiving a bye in the first round by placing second in the league, the team squared off against Towson. The game was scoreless after one period. Towson go on the scoreboard first by scoring early in the second period. Lehigh answered on the power play. Chris Ramondelli gained the offensive zone and dropped a pass to Kevin McGee.  McGee drove the puck low and fed a pass up top to Andrew Clayton. Clayton slid along the blue line with the puck and took a shot that found its way through traffic into the goal. Towson took another penalty when a Towson player dumped a Lehigh player who was celebrating the goal.  Lehigh made them pay by scoring another power play goal to take the lead. This time, Clayton gained the zone and dropped the puck to McGee. McGee moved the puck to Joseph Ramondelli on the right side and he immediately found Clayton open at the left side of the net. The defender closed the gap on Clayton and McGee filled the open spot. Clayton got his pass through the defender to McGee attacking the net. McGee went backhand to forehand and flipped the puck over the sprawling Towson goalie to gain the lead.
The score would remain 2-1 until late in the game. With 3 minutes to go, Towson took a penalty for tripping. Lehigh was conservative on the power play looking to kill time. With the penalty over and 41 seconds left in the game. Lehigh iced the puck.  With the icing, Towson was able to call time out and set up in Lehigh's end for a face off. With the goalie pulled, Towson mounted a furious attack and scored with 25 seconds left in regulation to tie the game.
Early in overtime. Chris Ramondelli found a streaking McGee in the neutral zone and he created a 2 on 1 with Henry Brooks. McGee backhanded a pass to Brooks who faked the shot and slid a beautiful pass to McGee at the side of the net looking at nothing but twine. Lehigh wins and advances to the ECHA final.
The Mountain Hawks reach the ECHA final for the first time in its history and faced Navy.  Navy controlled play for much of the first 2 periods. Lehigh had several power play opportunities but could not solve Navy's penalty kill. The score after 2 periods was Navy 3, Lehigh 0.
In the third period, Nick Warren dumped the puck to Chris Ramondelli behind the net.  Ramondelli fought off a check and passed the puck to McGee in the high slot.  McGee shot and stayed with the rebound as he put it past the Navy goalie to make the score 3-1. Lehigh battled hard but couldn't gain ground on the tough Navy team. With 3 minutes to go in regulation, Navy took a penalty and Lehigh called time out. It appeared that Lehigh inched closer with a goal, but it was called off by the referee who said a Lehigh player was in the crease.  With less than a minute to go and still on the power play, Chris Ramondelli found a rebound at the side of the net and made the score 3-2. Assisting were Joe Ramondelli and McGee.    Lehigh won the center ice face off and dumped the puck into the Navy end as they pulled their goalie. Adam Goldstein retrieved a puck dumped by Navy. He turned and made a long pass which sent Scott Mogerley all alone on the goalie. He shot 5 hole but was denied. Time ran out and Lehigh lost 3-2.
Kevin McGee was named to the all-tournament team. Andrew Carlin was named tournament MVP.
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