A defensive showdown between the Pittsford Panthers (8-3) and Webster Thomas Titans (6-4) saw the Panthers emerge victorious by way of a slim 4-2 win Wednesday at Pittsford Sutherland.
With the victory, the Panthers have won five straight and eight of their last nine games to improve to 8-3 on the season, which is good second-place in the Monroe County-1 standings. Senior attackman James Cook added to his team-best 24 goals as he recorded his ninth multi-goal outing of the season, which includes seven two-goal games.
Senior Midfielder Gustav Murphy and junior attacker Rex Kesselring both added goals while sophomore midfielder Luke Fliss notched an assist. Senior goaltender Nolan Dehan (7-3) made five saves in 48 minutes while earning the win.
Despite entering the contest having won two straight and showing a 6-3 record through its first nine games of the spring, the Titans were limited to a season-low two goals.
Senior midfielder Nathan Hoban and sophomore midfield Reid Doolittle both netted goals for Thomas while netminder Owen Dalberth made six saves but suffered the loss.
In the opening quarter, Pittsford grabbed a 2-0 lead with just over four minutes left as Cook and Murphy both scored.
Following Hoban’s tally at the 3:31 mark of the first quarter, Kesselring responded 73 seconds later to bump the Panthers’ advantage to 3-1, a lead they would take into the second quarter.
The game remained a two-goal cushion for Pittsford until the 9:17 mark of the fourth quarter as Cook added his second of the contest from Fliss.
Despite Doolittle bringing the Titans within two with just under seven minutes left in regulation, Thomas, which drew a power-play in the final minutes, could not find a way to solve Dehan as they fell 4-2.