Zachary Masterson scored twice as the Ayr Centennials beat the Essex 73s 5-2 Saturday night at the Essex Centre.
The win for Ayr in Game 6 of the Schmalz Cup semifinals ties the best-of-series at three games apiece. The deciding Game 7 is set for Monday night at Ayr.
The Centennials scored the only two goals of the first period. Masterson opened the scoring at 11:22, then Nolan Ferris doubled the Ayr lead less than two minutes later.
Alex Mutton extended the Centennials lead at just 52 seconds into the second period, on a power play goal. Essex got on the board with a power play goal from Anthony Cristofaro, so Ayr held a 3-1 lead after the second period.
Masterson put his second puck of the night into the net just after the start of the third period to make the score 4-1 in the Centennials' favour, but the 73s answered back with a score from Tyler Scott at 5:26 in the third frame.
Essex goalie Tyler Ryan was pulled late in the third for the extra attacker, but Hudson Michaelis sealed the win for Ayr with an empty-net goal.
The Centennials' Jackson Swindells had 26 stops in goal while Ryan had 25 saves in the losing effort for the 73s.
Puck drop for Game 7 is at 7:30pm at North Dumfries. The winner of that contest will take on the Port Hope Panthers for the Schmalz Cup.
