​Ripley Wolves take 2-0 lead in semi-final series against Durham Thundercats

The Ripley Wolves took a 2-0 lead over the Durham Thundercats in their semi-final series, on the weekend.

Saturday night, in Durham, Wolves captain Garrett Meurs scored a hat-trick to lead the Wolves to an 8-5 win over Durham in the opening game of the second-round series.

While the Thundercats clawed their way back from a 3-0 deficit early in the second, the Wolves didn't waver and continued to find the back of the net, scoring four goals in the third to seal the win.

In addition to Meurs' three goals, Tyson Soers, J.D. Falconer, Dan Nicoloff, Gerrit Satosek, and Christian Monachino joined him on the scoresheet.

Assists went to Nicoloff (3), Dawson Fahrer, Kaden Hoggarth, Ethan Skinner, Cody Britton, Carter Servais, Jordan Moulton, Jarred Colling, Satosek, and Monachino.

Wolves goalie Jason Hamilton faced 40 shots while the Wolves fired 37 on Durham's net.

The teams combined for 70 penalty minutes, setting up a hard-fought rest of the series.

Sunday afternoon, in front of a full house at the Ripley Arena, the Wolves downed Durham, 5-2.

Jordan Moulton, Logan Swanton, Garrett Meurs, and Carter Servais gave the Wolves the lead before Ethan Skinner added a beautiful empty-netter on their way to the Game 2 win.

Assists went to Cody Britton (2), JD Falconer, Kaden Hoggarth, and Meurs.

Garrett Golley stopped 30 of 32 shots in net for Ripley, while the Wolves pounded 36 shots on the Durham net.

Game 3 goes Saturday night, March 7, at 6:30 p.m., in Durham, while Game 4 returns to Ripley, Sunday, March 8, at 3 p.m.

If necessary, Game 5 is Friday, March 13, at 8:30 p.m., in Ripley; Game 6 runs Saturday, March 14, at 5:30 p.m., in Durham; and Game 7 is Sunday, March 15, at 2:30 p.m., in Ripley.