Marcus Tan broke a scoreless deadlock with 4:32 remaining in regulation, but Rockville Centre/E. Rockaway/Hewlett MS answered back to salvage a 1-1 tie against Manhasset/Great Neck/Port Washington MS on Monday night at Freeport Recreation Center. The defensive struggle saw both teams combine for just 42 shots on goal through nearly 45 minutes of scoreless hockey before the third-period fireworks.
The breakthrough finally came at 10:28 of the final frame when Tan, who entered the contest with six goals in 13 games, found the back of the net unassisted to give his squad the lead. The celebration was short-lived, however, as Leonardo Bertorelli responded just 2:52 later with an unassisted marker of his own to level the score at 7:36 of the third period.
Both goaltenders delivered stellar performances in the tight affair. Grayson Beschel turned aside 18 of 19 shots for a .947 save percentage, while Liam Parris was even better between the pipes for Rockville Centre, stopping 22 of 23 attempts for a .957 save percentage. The game featured five penalties total, with both teams struggling to capitalize on their power-play opportunities.
The result leaves both middle school programs in tight races within the NYIHSHL standings. Manhasset/Great Neck/Port Washington MS moves to 8-6-1 in 15 games, while Rockville Centre/E. Rockaway/Hewlett MS sits at 9-6-1 through 16 contests. Bertorelli‘s goal was his fifth of the season, adding to his team-leading eight points in 11 games, while Tan’s tally marked his seventh goal and 10th point of the campaign.