BOX SCORE

ASTON, Pa. -- Over the course of a season, you’re bound to run into a hot goalie.

The Philadelphia Little Flyers Premier team just wasn’t expecting it to be in Game 1.

Despite heavily outshooting the New Jersey Renegades, the Little Flyers dropped their season-opener, 5-3, after a late rally fell short on Saturday afternoon.

Jake Findley, Patrick Price and Jack Ellis all found the back of the net and Ronan Marley finished with 17 saves against New Jersey. Renegades goalie Joey Jamison turned aside 44 of the 47 shots the Little Flyers sent toward him.

Philadelphia was relentless in the first period, putting 17 shots on goal and spending most of their time in the offensive zone. Kelly Stroik had an excellent chance to get the Little Flyers on the board two minutes in but the game remained scoreless until Jason Moskowitz gave the Renegades a 1-0 lead at the 6:30 mark. Findley responded three minutes later after Tyler Efymow made a nice cut move behind the net and picked up a primary assist on the first official PLF goal of the season.

Momentum swung New Jersey’s way in the second period. Pat Jansen blocked a shot while shorthanded that ricocheted right onto Moskowitz's stick blade for his second goal of the game at 11:51. Dylan Idland gave the Renegades a 3-1 lead two minutes later at even strength.

The beginning of the third period didn’t bring much puck luck, either. James Mattson scored on the power play after a Tyler Ruppert slashing penalty and Moskowitz completed his hat trick to give New Jersey a 5-1 lead with 9 minutes and 47 seconds remaining.

Then it was rally time. Price scored just twenty seconds later on a slick pass from Jon Rineer in the high slot. Ruppert won a big offensive-zone draw at 12:37, leading to Ellis fighting off a defender and burying a Nicholas Bouchard rebound to make the game 5-3. Jordan Pakuris, William DiStefano, Tyler Law and Logan Downs all had high-quality scoring opportunities in the third period but the Little Flyers couldn’t complete the comeback bid.

Loose pucks
The Little Flyers went 1 for 5 on the power play and outshot New Jersey 17-7 in the first period, 11-9 in the second and 19-6 in the third. … Findley and Ellis’ goals were the first of their respective junior careers. … Philadelphia is back in action on Oct. 3, hosting the New Jersey 87s at IceWorks Skating Complex for a 1 p.m. puck drop.