HAUPPAUGE, N.Y. (LISN) — Brayden Beltrani scored twice and added two assists as the Smithtown/Hauppauge Bulls (1-0) cruised to a 9-1 victory in their season opener against the Patchogue/Medford Raiders (0-1). Dean Falcone tallied a goal and three assists for a four-point night, while Kyle Cummings netted two goals for the Bulls.
Jack Pring allowed just one goal in his first start of the season. Timothy Sambichler made his first career start for the Raiders.
Falcone opened the scoring with a power-play goal at 10:17 of the first period. He broke in on a breakaway off a crisp backhand saucer pass from Brett Spiers and fired high to the stick side.
Beltrani netted the eventual game-winner at 6:26 of the opening frame. Falcone broke up a PatMed zone exit, Nick Rindfuss won the ensuing puck battle, and Beltrani finished stick side high.
Beltrani struck again with 56 seconds left in the first, beating Sambichler short-side high to make it 3-0.
Just 46 seconds into the second period, Marcus D’Errico scored from the back door off a perfect feed from Liam McNamara.
Cummings recorded his first career varsity goal at 9:42 of the second with a shot from the point.
Spiers extended the lead with his first career varsity goal on the power play, ripping a shot from the slot at 5:42.
Cummings struck again on a one-timer from the slot with 16 seconds remaining in the period to make it 7-0.
Just 19 seconds into the third, Robert Auerbach buried a rebound for his first career varsity goal.
Rindfuss added his first career tally with 3:15 left in regulation.
The Raiders got on the board with 30 seconds remaining in the game when Gabe Vignato III scored his first career varsity goal on a partial breakaway, spoiling the shutout in a 9-1 loss.
Upcoming Schedule
The Smithtown/ Hauppauge Bulls return to action Monday, Sept. 22, at 9:40 p.m. against the Northport/Huntington Tigers.
The PatMed Raiders look to bounce back Wednesday, Sept. 24, at 9:20 p.m. against the defending champion St. Anthony’s Friars.
