AMHERST – What a difference 0.2 seconds can make. That’s how much time was left on the board in the third period when #12, Andrew Smith, scored the Ramblers’ fourth goal, winning against the Yarmouth Mariners 4-3. That gives the Amherst team three wins to Yarmouth’s one in a best-of-seven final series for the Bent Division title.
It wasn’t a great start for the home team. Coming off what must have been a disheartening road loss in Yarmouth, the Ramblers saw two Mariners goals in the first period before answering with one of their own at 13:37, compliments of Brandon Street, assisted by Trevor Layton and Andrew Smith.
Any momentum that goal generated ran into an obstacle in the second period, when Yarmouth scored for a third time, making it 3-1. Again the Ramblers climbed back up, this time with a power play goal by Cole MacMillan, assisted by Ryan Matheson, at 16:58.
The Ramblers were one down going into the last period. Brandon Street earned his first star at 11:55, when he evened the score at 3-3, assisted by Trevor Layton and Ben MacDonald.
There was only about 10 seconds left on the clock when the Ramblers made their last push down the ice. But it was enough time – barely. Andrew Smith placed himself in the right spot at the right time to put the goal in. Official time: 19:59.
Richard Tingley started in goals for Amherst, replaced by Kody Blois part-way through the first. Total shots on net were even for the teams at 29.
Look for complete coverage in the Monday paper.
