Squirt hockey team falls one goal short

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Neighbors | Submitted.Youngstown Phantoms Squirt team head coach Jim Hepola talks to his team between periods during last week's game.

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Right winger Mike Fetsko (right), of Boardman, rushes to the puck ahead of a defender during Saturday's game against Lawrence County.

The Youngstown Phantoms Squirt hockey team fell to Lawrence County 6-5 at the Ice Zone in Boardman Saturday in a non-league contest.

The Phantoms fell behind 2-0 in the first period until Maguire Franko (Poland) scored his first goal of the season with 1:40 remaining. Not long after, Devin Whitaker (Boardman) tied the game 2-2 with 18 seconds left in the period.

Seconds into the second period Danny Beistel (Canfield) scored his first goal of the season to give the Phantoms a 3-2 advantage. Whitaker scored his second goal of the game at the 9:15 mark of the second period to increase the Phantoms’ lead to 4-2.

But the team’s defensive play struggled for a stretch, giving up two goals in the next six minutes of the second period, as Lawrence County tied the contest at 4-4,

Justin Long (Brookfield) scored his first goal of the season as the Phantoms regained the lead at 5-4 with 2:59 remaining in the second period.

However, Lawrence County scored two goals in the third period to rally for the victory.

Squirt goalie Lane Kline (Pulaski) faced 21 shots in the net. The Phantoms had 17 shots on goal, scoring five times.

After the holiday weekend, the squad will travel to Robert Morris on Dec. 4 to face the Arctic Foxes.

The next day, the Phantoms will host Cambria at the Ice Zone.