Struggles continue for the Irish in loss to the Strathroy Jets on home ice

Stratford Irish goalie Mario Cavaliere makes the show-stealing save during the game against the Strathroy Jets on Dec. 13. Despite the effort, the Jets beat the Irish on home ice, 5-3.

The Stratford Irish lost for the third time in four games, falling 5-3 to the Strathroy Jets at the William Allman Memorial Arena on Dec. 13.

Strathroy scored its first goal 5:07 into the game, then added two more to lead 3-0 by the end of the first period. Early in the second, the Jets scored again, but Stephen Pierog, assisted by Brendan Charlton and Thomas Maia, finally put the Irish on the board late in the period.

The score stayed at 4-1 early in the third period until the Jets made it 5-1 just over five minutes in. Mateo Cabral, assisted by Maia, scored with 9:32 left to make it 5-2. Pierog added his second goal, assisted by Matthew Fuller and Jaden Peca, with 19 seconds remaining, giving the Irish a late boost in an otherwise tough home loss.

Mario Cavaliere made his first home start as goalie for the Irish but took the loss after allowing five goals on 29 shots.

After this loss, the Irish are now in third place in the Metropolitan Conference’s Gateway Division with a 7-5-0-1 record. Their home record stands at 2-3-1 for the season.

The Irish will head to Alvinston to play the Killer Bees on Dec. 20.