LITTLETON — Monarch, the top-ranked team in hockey, jumped out to a three-goal lead then held on for a 3-2 win over No. 5 Dakota Ridge on Tuesday afternoon.
Blake Bride had two goals, including a power-play tally, for the Coyotes. Jake Young also scored for Monarch.
The Coyotes went up 3-0 on Bride’s second goal with 12:23 to play. At that point, having killed a 5-on-3 disadvantage a period earlier, things looked to be locked up for Monarch.
But then Dakota Ridge’s leading scorer, Matteo Glennon, scored a power-play goal of his own with 9:43 to go. Suddenly, the Eagles had life. Seven minutes later, Jack Bonniwell cut it to a one-goal game.
That was as close at the Eagles, runner-up a season ago, would get. Monarch controlled pressure in the final minute to limit any frenzied scoring chances.
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