Wolves NCDC Team Starts Preseason Strong with Two Wins Over Knights
- James Karr
- Sep 17, 2024
- 2 min read
The West Chester Wolves NCDC team opened their preseason with back-to-back wins against the Wilkes-Barre Scranton Knights in a pair of highly competitive exhibition games.
Game 1: Wolves 6, Knights 4
In the first of the two-game series, the Wolves claimed a 6-4 victory at the Revolution Ice Centre on Friday, September 13. After a fast-paced first period, the Knights opened the scoring with a goal from Thomas Day, assisted by Daniel Komendat and Jackson Macaulay. However, West Chester quickly responded with two goals of their own, including a strike by Jacob Becnel off a setup from Philip Gamper and Cole Kerr, followed by a tally from Emil Szepesi, assisted by Owen Norman and Ryan Baumann.
The second period saw more back-and-forth action. Day netted his second of the game for Wilkes-Barre, but the Wolves answered with a goal from Patrick Swan, assisted by Quinn Kinne and Baumann. The Knights evened the score once more, but Szepesi’s second goal of the game, along with Alec Alfieri’s first, helped West Chester pull away before the period ended.
Bryan Weissler’s third-period goal, assisted by Rory Goudie and Alfieri, sealed the Wolves’ lead, despite the Knights’ late goal by Perman. West Chester goalie Davis stood tall in net, turning away 33 of 37 shots to earn the victory.
Game 2: Wolves 2, Knights 1
In the second exhibition game on Sunday, September 15, the Wolves edged out the Knights 2-1 in a tight defensive battle at the PNY Sports Arena. West Chester’s offense struck early in the first period with goals from defenseman Samuel Richeson, assisted by Dean Cardosi and Szepesi, and forward Emmanuel, set up by Travis Stokes and Cardosi.
The Wolves’ defense held strong throughout the game, allowing just one goal in the second period from Knights’ forward Naletov, but that would be the only offense Wilkes-Barre could muster. The Wolves’ goaltending duo of Pribula and Spaniol combined to stop 39 of 40 shots, with Spaniol shutting the door in the third period.
With these two exhibition wins, the Wolves look to carry momentum into the regular season on Sept. 20 against the PAL Junior Islanders at Northwell Health Ice Center.
