FRENCH RIVER – A Nolan Nemecek goal with 8:10 remaining in regulation proved to be the difference maker as the Soo Eagles went on to edge the French River Rapids 3-2 Friday in a hard-fought Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League match-up at Noelville Arena.
Visiting Sault Ste. Marie capitalized on a two-man advantage midway through the first period to take the lead when Logan Stawizynski stuffed in a Micah Seery cross-ice feed off some crisp puck movement in beating French River netminder Keiran Caughran.
The Eagles extended their lead early in the second stanza when Samuel Gold swatted in a Dominic Cicco set-up into the open side on Caughran.
A late effort in the session brought the Rapids to within one after 40 minutes thanks to Jonah Gareau, who neatly tipped in a Jeremy Clark left point attempt for his sixth of the season at 18:49, that eluded goalkeeper Jace Knoerle.
Going up by a pair in the third, Nemecek darted down the right wing with speed on a two-on-one where he elected to shoot and wired a short side wrist shot past Caughran.
Inching closer with three and a half minutes remaining, French River pressured a turnover, which allowed Michael Morascyzk to redirect in a Gareau feed while situated at the top of the crease.
Then on a late power play and with netminder out for another attacker, the Rapids pushed hard to equalize and force overtime, but the visitors held firm defensively to collect the road win.
With the outcome, the Eagles improve to 10-14-0-1 overall while the narrow defeat sees the Rapids dip to 4-19-0-0.
