On the strength of multiple three-plus goal runs, the Hawkeyes doubled up the Buffaloes on Wednesday at The Blue Cross Arena 12-6 to advance to the UCBLL Finals.
The Hawkeyes, who had four players with multi-point games, were led offensively by leading forwards Nicholas Miller (2+3) and Zachary Terry (3+1) as they each posted five and four points, respectively. Dylan Snow (2+0), Nick Cartmill (1+2), Patrick Mitchell (1+1), Colin Blakeslee (1+1) and Rocco Santillo (1+1) all recorded multiple points Matthew Blythe rounded out the scoring as he scored once.
Goaltender Kyle Meaghar got the start in net and made 33 saves in a winning effort.
Weylon Abrams posted a team-high three points (2+1) for the Buffaloes while Jadon Jimerson (0+2) and James Chadwick (1+1) each tallied two points apiece. Jason Chiodo, Logan Nelson and Jake Echeverria added one goal while Drew Werner and Donovan Nephew both registered one assist.
Netminder Gage Stevens suffered the defeat despite stopping 34 of the 46 shots he faced.
With a narrow 5-4 lead to begin the second half, the Hawkeyes took command of the game as they pushed their cushion to 9-4 with just over four minutes left in the third quarter.
Cartmill started the run as he scored at the 11:13 mark before earning an assist on Miller and Terry’s markers. Mitchell closed out the run with his lone goal of the contest.
After Buffalo scored once before the end of the quarter and then again to start the final frame, the Hawkeyes closed out the game with another three-goal run to make the score 12-6.
The Hawkeyes quickly jumped out to 4-0 advantage in the first quarter. The Buffaloes responded back to pull within one as they countered back with three straight goals before each team notched one more to make it a 5-4 score at the half.
In the second half, the Hawkeyes outscored the Buffaloes 7-2 with each club scoring one power-play goal.
With the 12-6 victory, the Hawkeyes will play the Rapids tonight at 7 p.m. at the Classic Rink in East Aurora for the UCBLL Championship.