High School
Friars Fly By T-Birds
Joe Rocca scored the eventual game winning goal with 13:04 remaining in the first period as the St. Anthony’s Friars defeated the Connetqout Sayville BBP T-Birds 2-0. The Friars moved to 7-5 on the season. The T-Birds dropped to 5-7 on the campaign. T.J. Ulmschneider recorded a shutout in his fifth win of the season for the Friars. Shane Kirby was stellar in his eight start of the season for the T-Birds. The Friars were without Anthony Scorcia, who is out with an upper body injury. Zackary Sirel was unavailable for St. Anthony’s. Andrew Jozwicki was unavailable for the Connetquot Sayville BBP T-Birds.
Less than two minutes into the opening frame, Brady Monteleone attempted to split the T-Birds defense, but had the puck poked off his stick by Joseph Villani. The trailing Joe Rocca collected the loose puck and fired a shot that beat Kirby stick side. Gerard Nealon had a shorthanded breakaway opportunity on the penalty kill, but Kirby took away the angle and Nealon wound up firing it wide. It was the first of two breakaway opportunities where St. Anthony’s failed to get a shot on net. The Friars led by one after fifteen minutes of regulation.
At the start of the 2nd period, the T-Birds put the lines in a blender. Logan Booth Alum was bumped up to the top line with Mathew Campagnola and the Captain, Ryan Fleischauer. That line generated several key scoring chances as the period progressed. After Booth Alum intercepted a breakout pass in the Friars zone, the Lake Ronkonkoma native nearly made it a one goal name. T.J. Ulmschneider made the first stop on a shot from the slot before making a fantastic stick save on the rebound. Then with 6:14 remaining in the 2nd stanza, the Friars made it a two score game off a shot from the blue line by Michael Caitzone. The puck came to Catizone off a faceoff win by James Schendorf. The St. Anthony’s blue liner walked the line and fired a shot across his body that beat Kirby glove side high. The T-Birds netminder was screened on the play. The T-Birds trailed by two goals after two periods of play.
As the period progressed, the T-Birds continued to move personnel around in a last ditch effort to find the back of the net. Joseph Villani joined fellow rookie Logan Booth Alum on the ice for the final minute of regulation. A roughing minor that went against the extra attacker, Eathan Brdey, put the T-Birds on the kill for the remainder of the game. The Connetqout Sayville BBP T-Birds forward was assessed a ten minute misconduct for unsportsmanlike conduct. Friars blue liner, Jack Mancini, was also assessed a ten minute misconduct for unsportsmanlike conduct. T.J. Ulmschneider made one last save as time expired to secure the shutout victory.
Scoring Summary
Period | Time | Goal Scorer (Team) | Assist(s) | Goal Type |
---|---|---|---|---|
1st | 13:04 | Joe Rocca (St. Anthony’s) | Brady Monteleone | Game Winning Goal |
2nd | 06:14 | Michael Catizone (St. Anthony’s) | James Schendorf | – |
Three Stars of the Game
Star | Player (Team) | Stat Line | Performance Summary |
---|---|---|---|
1st | Joe Rocca (St. Anthony’s) | 1 Goal | The versatile forward scored a key goal, but his play on and off the puck was a factor all night. |
2nd | T.J. Ulmschneider (St. Anthony’s) | SO, WIN | When the T-Birds picked up the pace, it was the Ulmschneider who stopped them in their tracks. |
3rd | Michael Catizone (St. Anthony’s) | 1 Goal | The two-way blue liner scored the insurance goal while also playing a shutdown role for the Friars. |
Looking To Settle The Score
The St. Anthony’s Friars have won five of their last six games with their lone loss coming against a Knights squad with wins against both the Chiefs and Sachem. The St. Anthony’s Friars will be back in action as they take on the Smithtown Hauppauge Bulls on Wednesday, December 13th at 7:50 PM. The Bulls won round one by a final score of 6-3.
Two Key Points On The Line
Last night’s loss to the Friars was emblematic of the Connetqout Sayville BBP T-Birds scoring struggles this season. Look for the Connetqout Sayville BBP T-Birds to try and bounce back against the Ward Melville Patriots on Sunday, December 17th at 7:50 PM. The T-Birds won their first meeting of the campaign by a final score of 8-6.
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