Picking right up from from last season’s battles with Smithtown, this 2022/23 team has the same feel for the dramatics. Some new faces and some of the old reliable faces; similar results with a 4-3 Last Minute Win! The T-Birds were missing 4 skaters last night going against the previously undefeated first place Bulls (4-1-1), but received a full team effort to get the win!
Scoring started early in the first with Seniors Jackson Tomforde and Sean Connolly teaming up for the Game’s first goal. It is Tomforde’s 4th goal of the season, and prime of example of those who go to the net get rewarded.
With no goals scored in favor of the T-Birds during the second period they found themselves entering the third period down 2-1, T-Birds sent out their crash line to make things happen early in the third. Senior Logan Gray scored his second goal in as many games with a nice redirection from a George Vadyak shot from the point to tie it up at 2.
After giving up a late 3rd goal to Smithtown Junior Ryan Fleischauer scored his 4th goal of the season on a feed from Jack Mercado. What seemed like a low risk shot found it’s way to the back of the net and tied the game at 3. No such thing as a bad shot!
And like last season versus the Bulls Matteo Marchese once again delivered the winning goal, with his 4th goal of the season. It was a power play goal, after Junior Zach Martin drew an interference call in the offensive zone with hard work. The power play goal was set up with hard work from Sean Connolly in the corner to feed Ryan Fleischauer, over to Marchese. If you have seen Matteo play this is not the first time you have seen him score from that spot on the ice, a snipe past the Smithtown net-minder, 4-3 Victory.
Of course without goaltending there would be no victory, Junior Matt Hughes was as calm and collective as they come. His night was filled with many opposing opportunities, and his play helped settle the T-Birds and set them up for the win. Congrats to Matt on his first Varsity Win!
As mentioned a team win comes with sacrifice, and a shout out to Junior Jack Mercado for playing out of position most of the night skating as a forward and taking many faceoffs throughout the night. The 5 man defensive unit was solid giving very few odd man opportunities versus the talented Bulls team.
The Varsity wants you to mark the calendar for their next game, October 24th (Monday) 8:10pm against St. Anthony’s, revisiting last season’s Suffolk County Finals; wear your Red!