Cougars Fast Start Paces Victory Over Thunderbolts

The game started with a flurry of goals. Fast starts to the first and second periods propelled Johnston/North Providence Co-op to victory against Cranston East in Game 1 of their Division III semifinals series at Smithfield Rink on Friday night. The Cougars took an early 4-0 lead and never relinquished it, holding on for the 6-3 victory.

Less than 15 seconds into the game, Johnston/North Providence lit the lamp. Captain David Ascenzi made sure his team got out to a fast start and fired home a shot.

"I told them before the game, the first five minutes was going to be key, we wanted to create momentum," Cougars coach David Accetturo said.

The early onslaught continued when junior Robert Tonucci buried home a shot only a minute later.

For a majority of the first period, the puck was in East's zone. The Cougars created many scoring chances but could not pad the lead.

The hot starts to periods continued for Johnston in the second period, as they scored two goals in the first two minutes. Freshman Nicholas Fournier hustled to the puck trickling in the crease and flipped it up into the net for the third goal. Senior Ryan Rotondi blasted a slap shot from the blue line, extending the lead to 4-0.

With just over six minutes left in the second period, the Thunderbolts got their first goal. Senior Ryan Hyatt's shot was blocked by Johnston's goalie, but Dan Muncy cleaned up the garbage and East was on the board.

Tonucci notched his second goal of the night with about ten minutes left in the game, extending the Cougars lead to 5-1.

After Hyatt scored a power play, Ascenzi scored the dagger goal with only 1:09 left in the game. East turned the puck over and he capitalized on the breakaway. The Bolts added a late goal, and the Cougars took game 1 of the best out of 3 series 6-3. Game 2 will be played Saturday night at Cranston Ice Rink at 8:10 P.M.

"They wanted it a little more," Bolts coach PJ Bessette sad, "They came out with an agenda today. Our downfall tonight was we could not score on the power play."

He spoke highly of the Cougars team.

"They are very talented on the defensive end and I give Johnston a lot of credit, they came out to play," he said.

Accetturo felt his team needs to improve in one area. "We have to cut down on our penalties," he said. "The extra week of practice helped us prepare for the moment like this."

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