Some additional time in the post-season escaped the grasp of the Joel Barlow High hockey team.

The Falcons, who qualified for both the South-West Conference playoffs as well as the state Division III tournament, exited each one early.

In the former they faced Bethel/Brookfield/Danbury (BBD) last Thursday, March 3. Although the fourth-seeded Falcons took a 1-0 lead, it turned out to be their only goal of the game (as well as the post-season) in a 3-1 loss at the Danbury Ice Arena.

Barlow was well supported by the fans as the puck dropped in the conference semifinal. Within minutes of the opening face-off, Paul Camomilli advanced the puck the length of the ice on the breakout.

Entering the IceCats�€™ zone, he snapped a shot high that rebounded off the goalie and out towards sophomore Chris Van Camp, who chipped the puck in to give the Falcons the 1-0 lead in the first period.

Starting goalie Gordon Loery began to build his 24-save standout performance as he kept the IceCats clear of the net for the remainder of the frame.

Despite saves by Barlow�€™s senior goalie in the second, BBD broke through to knot the game at one. The Falcons did not see many opportunities at the net as they put their largely defensive style of play into full effect.

The previous game between the two teams featured BBD leading 5-2 going into the third period. It was clear that this match-up was different as third began tied 1-1.

The third period was simply one of the best all season, featuring supreme goaltending, defense, and a poised offense. BBD gained the lead with an unimaginable and disheartening goal.

As a BBD defender missed the net high, the puck hit the glass behind the net, arced way up and back towards the front, eventually hitting Loery in the back of the shoulder and trickling in. This fairy tale goal took some wind out of Barlow�€™s sails, as soon after BBD broke the Falcons down for a score on a breakaway. The score remained frozen as time expired.

In the state tournament Barlow faced another three-team cooperative when it visited St. Bernard/Bacon Academy/Norwich Free Academy on Monday. After the two-hour bus ride the 10th-ranked Falcons had some trouble getting their offense started and got shut out 4-0 by the No. 7 seeded to end the season

The hosts got out to an early 1-0 lead in the first. Barlow had a difficult time registering shots on the opposing goalie as the Falcons searched for the middle ground between a defensively sound game and an offensively minded one.

The run-and-gun style was not viable due to sheer numbers. St. Bernard and company skated three strong lines oppose to Barlow�€™s two.

The home team broke through once again in the second. Loery kept them out of the net numerous other times as he registered 34 saves in his final game as a Falcon.

Barlow continued to skate. However, the hosts broke through twice more in the third.

Seniors Sean Foley, Sam Weber, Gordon Loery, alternate captain Paul Camomilli, and co-captains Ryan McGowan and Adam Jacobs left it all out on the ice in their final game in black and gold. There was no negativity in the locker room, as there was a positive light towards a season for a team that had been through a great deal of adversity and hardship, which ultimately brought a group of 19 together.

Barlow finishes the season at 8-12 overall.