Adam Prudhomme
Editor
Evan Foley scored twice to lead the Napanee Raiders to a 2-1 victory over the Picton Pirates in Game 1 of the Tod Division Finals tonight at the SPC.
Foley opened the game’s scoring with a goal late in the first, doing so while from a prone position after he fell in front of the Pirate net. He was able to push the puck passed a sprawled out Eric Tessier, who just couldn’t swing his goalie paddle back in time to close the wide open gap. Logan White and Matthew Panetta earned assists on the play.
That goal held until the final two minutes of the second when Picton’s Nick Kirby-Pallister beat Raider goalie Bailey Maracle with the equalizer.
Neither team could muster any more offense until Foley broke through with the critical go ahead goal midway through the third.
Maracle made the goal stand, turning away all 13 shots he faced in the third, finishing the game with 37 saves. Tessier had 31 saves.
Picton had five power-plays but couldn’t convert on any of them. Napanee was held scoreless on their lone man-advantage.
The two teams will now have a six day layoff, with Game 2 of the best-of-seven series set to resume Thursday in Picton. Game 3 is back in Napanee a week from tonight. Both games get underway at 7:30 p.m.