The Thrilling Rollercoaster of the Southern Division Playoffs: Binghamton Ranges and Rochester Americans Go Head-to-Head in a Seven-Game Battle for Supremacy

Binghamton hockey fans were on the edge of their seats as they watched the American Hockey League’s Southern Division final series. The Binghamton Rangers took a commanding 2-1 lead in the series, thanks to a hard-fought victory over Rochester with a score of 3-1. Goals from Rob Zamuner and Mike Stevens, as well as an empty-netter from Jody Hull, propelled Binghamton to victory. Goaltender Mark Laforest made 23 saves to secure his sixth playoff start.

However, Rochester refused to give up and rallied from a 3-1 deficit to eliminate Binghamton in Game 7 with a score of 4-2. This was the first time in nearly two decades that a Binghamton team had lost a decisive Game 5 or Game 7.

Meanwhile, on a sunny afternoon in Johnson City, defending state champions continued their winning streak with a dominant 6-1 victory over Vestal. The Wildcats, ranked as Class B No. 1, extended their win streak to an impressive 16 games thanks to Charlene Cook’s three-hit pitching and Chris Dyman’s strong hitting performance. In another game that day, Union-Endicott’s Jennifer Fitzgerald pitched her second consecutive shutout, coming close to achieving a perfect game in a resounding 15-0 win against Susquehanna Valley.