Newark, Del. — The Avon Grove (0-1-0) Devils dropped their season opener against Unionville (2-0-1), giving up four unanswered goals in the final 24 minutes of a 5-1 defeat.
Philippe Doucette led Unionville’s charge with two goals and an assist in the third period, while goalie Keigan Craig provided a solid backstop for the Indians with a 23-save performance.
Penalty trouble set Avon Grove back in the first period, as Unionville winger Jake Petrillo finished a tic-tac-toe advance from Grant Hineman and Levi Jones at 11:38, just nine seconds into a Caleb El-Attar hooking minor. The Devils responded 3:18 into the second period, when J.T. McDonald beat Craig from the left edge of the crease from a Quinn Slavin assist.
Avon Grove failed to break the 1-1 tie on two power play opportunities in the second period, and a shorthanded breakaway goal from winger Dylan Blackburn at 8:02 in the middle frame commenced the 4-0 run for Unionville which propelled them to victory.
Up 2-1 through two periods, the Indians commanded the entire third period, out-shooting Avon Grove 12-7 and generating many odd-man rushes. Doucette’s pair of goals — at :10 and 5:23 in the third period and both from quick entries to the Devils’ zone — was followed by a successful Grant Hineman wrist shot from a Doucette centring pass at 6:33.
Unionville was 2-for-5 on the power play, while Avon Grove was unsuccessful in all three of their man-advantage opportunities.
Avon Grove netminder J.D. D’Ambrosio stopped 30 of 35 shots faced.
