ST. PETERS • Pattonville's 3-1 win over Francis Howell Central on Monday at the St. Peters Rec-Plex came down to one simple factor.
When it came to rebounds in front of the net, Pattonville got to them and Howell Central did not as the Pirates were able to rebound from the team's only loss to date.
"Coming back today, we were really hungry after our loss," said Pattonville goaltender Zachary Everson of the Pirates' 6-3 loss to Lindbergh last Friday, the team's first of the season. "I thought I didn't do that great with rebounds. I thought I was putting too much out in front. The defense did a great job clearing them out in front of me."
Pattonville (12-1-1) jumped to the lead just 73 seconds into the game, as Tyler Kuhn swatted a rebound home past Howell Central goaltender Zachary Grabowski. Logan Harnetz and Shaun Treat were credited with assists.
"We are playing some good hockey," Pattonville coach Randy Guenther said. "We lost one the other night, which was tough, because we were short people. It brought us back to earth a little bit. We had a talk after the loss about keeping our intensity up and we knew (Howell Central) would be tough. I am proud of the way the guys played."
The Pirates added to the lead in the second period when one player in specific was able to take advantage of rebounds.
With 6 minutes, 47 seconds left in the period, Andrew Potter-Gray scored a short-handed goal on a rebound to move the score to 2-0.
He pushed the lead to 3-0 at the 4:03 mark when he pounced on another rebound.
"This feels good," Potter-Gray said. "We stepped it up tonight and won. I just (scored on) rebounds. Guys shot the puck, and I was there to pick it up."
Joseph Kavanaugh earned the assist on the first Potter-Gray goal and Zachary Guenther added the helper on the second.
The three Pirates goals seemed to fire up Howell Central.
Howell Central outshot Pattonville 22-10 over the final two periods and 27-16 in total.
The Spartans (6-7-1) avoided the shutout when Chance Shearon scored to make it 3-1 with 12:31 to play. Tyler Liefer had the assist.
"We came out flat-footed and weren't into it from the jump," Howell Central coach Rocky Aliberti said. "We didn't start playing and start thinking more until the second and third periods."
Everson made 26 saves to earn the win, while Grabowski made 13 saves in the loss.
"Zach stood on his head to keep us in it as much as we were," Aliberti said. "We just didn't play as well as we are capable as a team tonight. Pattonville is a very good team and I don't want to take anything from them. They deserved it."
