Long Beach turned a tight contest into a rout with an explosive third period, scoring five goals in the final frame to defeat Oceanside 9-5 at Long Beach Municipal Ice Arena on Sunday. The victory improved Long Beach’s record to 11-4 while dealing another setback to struggling Oceanside (4-11).
What began as a methodical offensive display turned into a goal-scoring festival in the third period. After building a 4-1 lead through two periods behind goals from Garrett Bella, Paxton Cavallo, William Gallinaro and Owen Hayden, Long Beach faced a spirited Oceanside comeback that cut the deficit to 5-4 with 13:27 remaining. But the home team responded with authority, netting four goals in a frantic 41-second span that effectively ended the contest.
William Gallinaro led the offensive onslaught with four points (2G, 2A), while Owen Hayden continued his playmaking prowess with three points (1G, 2A). The duo has been instrumental in Long Beach’s strong season, with Hayden serving as the primary setup man on multiple scoring plays. August Rodabaugh delivered the game-winning goal at 5:42 of the third period, though it proved academic as Long Beach pulled away decisively.
Oceanside’s Michael Potapchuk matched his season goal total entering the game with a three-point performance (1G, 2A), providing the primary offensive threat for the visiting side. Spencer Fox, who entered with a team-leading 17 goals in 12 games, added another goal and assist to his impressive campaign. Despite the offensive contributions, Oceanside’s goaltending struggled as starter Callan Schwartz was pulled after allowing five goals on 49 shots.
The third period showcased the volatility of middle school hockey, with nine combined goals creating a back-and-forth thriller before Long Beach’s late surge. After Dominick Pellegrino and Matthew Mazun had pulled Oceanside within striking distance, the Marines responded with goals from Cruz Asham, Mason Sackaris and Matthew Hagen in rapid succession to seal the victory.
This marked a vast improvement from the teams’ previous meeting on October 5, when Long Beach dominated 11-0. While Oceanside showed significantly more fight in the rematch, Long Beach’s depth and offensive firepower ultimately proved too much to contain. The victory keeps Long Beach in strong position as the second annual NYIHSHL Middle School Championship approaches.