Hat-Trick From Borges, Defensive Work Powers Williston to Victory against Nobles

by Team Reporter & Writer-Nate Gordon

With a Hat-trick from junior forward Brandon Borges and stellar defensive work late in the game, Williston was able to hold off Nobles to win 3-2. This is the first time ever that Williston Hockey has defeated Nobles.

This was the first game of a doubleheader Williston will play today, Sunday, December 29th. The next game is scheduled to start at 6:30 against Berkshire and will be held at Nobles.

This game was also the second of three games the Wildcats are playing in a  three-game showcase this weekend. Yesterday, Williston pummeled St. Sebastian’s 8-2.

As Williston Head Coach Derek Cunha said after the game, “This weekend is a really good step in the right direction for us.”

Borges gave Williston a 1-0 lead with 5:27 remaining in the first period. He got a pass from junior forward Tyler Scroggins in front of the net and scored.

Eight seconds later, right off a center ice face-off, Borges skated right back down to Nobles’ net and scored. Scroggins also had the assist on this goal.

With one minute to go in the first period, Nobles cut Williston’s lead down to one when it scored a power-play goal on a slap shot from the blue line.

Just like yesterday against St. Seb’s, although Williston finished the first 18 minutes with a 2-1 lead, Cunha was still not pleased. “You guys didn’t play a great period there. Defensively, we are giving them too many opportunities. Right now, you can’t be as reckless as we are in the D-zone.”

In the second period, the game became more physical, but the Wildcats didn’t take unnecessary penalties as they have in previous games. Both teams had good scoring chances in this period, but only one goal was produced. It came with thirty seconds to go in the period when senior forward Max Willman skated down to Nobles’ goal, dropped the puck off to Borges in front of the goal, who netted the puck.

This goal completed the Hat-trick for Borges. This was the second game in a row in which a Wildcat had a three-goal game. Yesterday, it was Scroggins who scored three against St. Seb’s

After the game, Borges said, “The Hat-trick was both my line mates working hard and finding me.”

Once again in this game, Williston’s first line (Scroggins, Willman, Borges) was the driving force offensively. In the last two games, this line has produced eight goals and ten assists—18 points.

As to why his line is starting to be very successful now, Borges said, “I think at first we weren’t clicking because of the individualism. Now that we started playing more as a team, we’re moving the puck more, and things are going well now.”

Nobles scored with just over four minutes left in the third period to make it a one-goal game. Great defensive work helped prevent Nobles from scoring on a late power play.

Senior goaltender Tim Nowacki was stellar in this game and made key saves in crucial moments of the game. He ended the game with 36 saves (.947%).

With this win, Williston improved to 5-3. With five wins, this team now has more wins than last year’s team had all season.

Tonight against Berkshire, the Wildcats are looking to sweep this three-game weekend showcase.

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