The Baldwin ice hockey team won 3-2 against Norwin on Monday, thanks to a game-winning goal in the last five seconds by senior Mack Dempsey. 

He said there was no time to think about the pressure of taking such a shot.

“Jacob Kaercher chipped up the boards, and I just won the race,” Dempsey said.

Dempsey saw his team improve in certain aspects of their play, which was essential in pulling off the win.

“I think we finally started moving the puck a little better, and we definitely put more pressure on the offensive zone with forechecking,” Dempsey said. 

Neither team had an upper hand early on.

“The first period was 0-0, so a really good battle and pretty even,” junior defenseman Gio Falce said. But the Highlanders were able to capitalize on Norwin’s defensive struggles later in the game, he said.

“They were struggling getting to the puck, getting on the defensive, and getting the puck off of them,” Falce said.

The team’s determination helped them to win the game, as well as their improved stamina.

“Usually, we kind of fall off in the third period after our intermission…I thought we played all the way through, which helped us win,” sophomore Austin Klein said. 

The win was important for Baldwin, since it moved the Highlanders above Norwin in the standings.

Klein highlighted the importance of the next game, which will be against Bishop McCourt on Jan. 5. The Highlanders lost to Bishop McCourt in late October.