2 Close 2 Call

Defense shines as Canton and
Salem battle to 2-2 deadlock

BY ED WRIGHT
Dec. 5, 2009, 12:45 a.m.

  Parity reigns in this season's Canton-Salem hockey rivalry.

  The two cross-campus counterparts have now played six periods in the past seven days and neither team has led by more than one goal at any given time.

  Much like last Saturday's 4-3 Salem win, Friday's showdown at the Arctic Edge Arena was tighter than Sponge Bob's square pants.

  With both goalies -- Salem's Steven Manser and Canton's Spencer Craig -- flashing some high-level skills, the game ended in a 2-2 deadlock.

  Salem stayed unbeaten at 2-0-2 while Canton's mark is as even as it can get at 2-2-1.

  Canton struck first with 5:48 left in the first period when Kyle Korte's launched a hard, high riser that rushed over the shoulder of Manser and into the back of the net. He was assisted by Alec Gilo and Jordan Smith.

  Not to be outdone, Salem's Ryan Quigley settled the puck just outside the top of the left circle with 2:58 into the second period and peppered a blur of a shot that Craig could barely see, let alone stop. Garrett Berg and Kurt Driscoll picked up helpers on Quigley's goal.

  Salem gained a 2-1 advantage with 6:55 remaining in the middle period when Austin Sartorious one-timed a shot from the doorstep past Craig.Berg and Mario Macari assisted.

  Rock captain Ryan Blakey nearly doubled the Salem lead, but his bullet from just inside the blue line was knocked away by Craig's pad.

  The game's final goal came on AJ Rosales' penalty shot, which beat a sprawling Manser high left. The penalty shot was set up second earlier when Jordan Smith slid a pass to the streaking Rosales, who was hauled down from behind by a Rock defender.

  Both teams has golden opportunities to score in the third period, but they were denied by their opponents solid defense. Salem's best chance came with 12:30 remaining when Mark McGee nearly jammed the puck around the post, but Craig was able to plug the opening.

  Korte threatened to finish what he started with 1:24 left when he broke free on the right wing, but his low laser just inside the blue line struck Manser right in the center of his blue jersey.