Evan LaFata picked right up where he left off, scoring twice to lead the East Islip Chiefs (1-0) to a 5-3 season-opening victory over the Middle Country Cougars (0-1). Jack Dolson scored the eventual game-winning goal, and Peter Marazzito chipped in a goal of his own for EI.
Dario Baerga backstopped the Chiefs to victory in his first start of the season, while Andrew Martens got the nod in net for the Cougars.
Just 46 seconds into the game, LaFata buried a rebound off a shot from Sean Damian to make it 1-0 Chiefs.
A couple of minutes later, Declan Munkwitz nearly answered back on a breakaway, but he was taken down to set up the first penalty shot of the season.
Munkwitz came in slow, creeping into the slot, and lifted it over the shoulder of Baerga for a beauty to tie the game 1-1 with 11:43 left in the opening stanza.
The Chiefs tried to answer back, but Martens made a series of show-stopping saves, including two with just over nine minutes remaining in the first frame.
The Cougars came back with a vengeance, taking the lead on a goal from Ian McGee at 7:43 in the 1st period. Michael Marturiello carried the puck up ice and found a cutting McGee, turning a 2-on-1 into a breakaway. McGee went forehand-backhand for the finish.
The Cougars kept pressing, but it was the Chiefs who struck next. Peter Marazzito fired a shot from the point to beat Martens with 1:37 left in the opening period, tying the game 2-2.
The game stayed tied until midway through the second stanza when Landon Musumeci made it 3-2 with 5:46 remaining. Musumeci buried a rebound in front after the puck caromed off the end boards.
Lightning struck twice for the Cougars late in the 2nd period when Munkwitz corralled a loose puck at the East Islip blue line, cut left as he entered the zone, and went backhand-forehand to tie it 3-3 with 2:06 left in the frame.
The game remained tied heading into the third, but after failing to capitalize on the power play, the Chiefs retook the lead with 10:06 remaining behind the eventual game-winner from Jack Dolson. A costly blue line turnover by the Cougars led to a 3-on-0 for East Islip, where Dolson walked in and beat Martens stick side high.
The Cougars kept it a one-goal game until the final minute of regulation before pulling Martens with just over 30 seconds to go, but the Chiefs forced a turnover and LaFata sealed the 5-3 win with an empty-netter.
Three Stars of the Game
Evan LaFata (2G, ENG) — Opened the scoring and capped it with an empty-netter in a stellar two-way performance.
Jack Dolson (GWG) — The East Islip star did a little bit of everything and came up big when it mattered most with the game-winning goal.
Peter Marazzito (G) — The blueliner righted the ship with a critical goal in the 1st period in a strong two-way performance.
Official Box Score
Upcoming Schedule
The Middle Country Cougars will square off against the Ward Melville Patriots on Wednesday, Sept. 24, at 9:20 p.m.
The East Islip Chiefs (1-0) will face off against the Connetquot/Sayville T-Birds (0-1) on Friday, Sept. 26, at 10:10 p.m.
