WATERDOWN – The Zurich Thunder Juvenile team suffered losses in the first two games of their best-of-five OMHA Semifinal against the Beverly Bandits over the weekend.

The teams opened the series Saturday night in Waterdown with Beverly winning 3-2.

The Thunder had a slow start, giving up an early goal shorthanded. The home side had the momentum through the first two periods, taking a 2-0 advantage into the intermission.

Zurich fought back early in the third, with Tyler Cooper notching the first Thunder goal, assisted by Josh Brideau.

The Thunder continued to apply pressure but Beverly made it 3-1.

With only a few minutes left in the game Brideau found the top corner of the net to bring the Thunder within one, but that was all Zurich would manage in the 3-2 loss.

Sunday afternoon in Zurich, the teams faced off again. The Thunder played better in front of a home crowd, with Colin Gingerich scoring for Zurich a few minutes into the opening frame.

But Beverly fought back and tied things up at 1-1 before the end of the period.

The teams traded goals in the second, with Beverly finding the back of the net three times, while Regier scored to send Zurich into the intermission down 4-2.

Beverly scored again midway through the third and although Brideau was able to pull the Thunder back within two, that was all they would manage.

Game Three is Friday night (March 8 ) in Rockton and if necessary Game Four will be held in Zurich on Saturday at 7:30 p.m.