Friars Take Down Tigers 

Zack Sirel scored the game winning goal as the St. Anthony’s Friars (8-5-1) defeated the Northport Huntington Tigers (6-8) by a final score of 7-3. Shane Ryan picked up his third win in four starts to date for the Friars. Connor King started in goal for the Tigers, but was relieved by Boden Rudloff at the start of the second stanza. The Friars were without Anthony Scorcia (Upper Body), while the Tigers were without Ryan Collins (Undisclosed) for Wednesday’s game. Collin’s absence led to Michael Agafonov moving back to defense which had a ripple effect across the Tigers entire lineup. 

With 12:57 remaining Michael Catizone sniped blocker side high on a shot through traffic from the top of the right wing face off circle to give St. Anthony’s a 1-0 lead. The Tigers went on the offensive after Michael Agafonov helped force a turnover that led to a three on two rush. The Tigers star charged up ice, broke through a big hit at the Friars blue line, and came in three on one with Broderick Prendergast and Liam Truicko. Agafonov cut towards the net before moving the puck to Prendergast who made a quick touch pass to Truicko. Shane Ryan made the first save, but Liam Truicko cashed in on the rebound to tie the game with 6:16 remaining in the period. Fifty-one seconds later Tommy Azzariti blocked a shot at his own blue line, raced across the neutral zone into Tigers territory where the Friars forward popped the netminder’s water bottle on a shot from the right wing dot that put St. Anthony’s back up by one. Brody O’Doherty fired a shot through traffic from the top of the right side face off circle to extend the Friars lead to two with 2:46 remaining in the period. Forty-eight seconds later Zack Sirel cut from the right wing wall to the slot and fired a shot across his body to beat the Northport Huntington Netminder glove side high to put St. Anthony’s up 4-1. With 1:33 remaining in the frame Michael Agafonov scored on a shot from the slot that came after Ryan Colapinto won the face off back to the Tigers star. The Friars led 4-2 after the first fifteen minutes of regulation. 

Connor King was relieved by Boden Rudloff at the start of the second period. Zack Sirel scored his second of the game on a shot through the defender to beat Rudloff glove side with 10:30 remaining in the frame. One minute and eight seconds later Blake Brown scored from beneath the goal line to put the Tigers back within two. The goal was mistakenly credited to a player who was not on the ice. Cormac Terry put the Friars back up by three on a slap shot that was redirected past Rudloff by a Northport Huntington defender with 2:33 remaining in the frame. 

Northport Huntington went on the power play with 12:14 remaining in regulation, but Shane Ryan shut the door on the power play. A botched zone entry by the Tigers just after the midway mark of 3rd period led to a breakaway opportunity for James Schendorf. Boden Rudloff made a sprawling pad save to deny Schendorf, but the St. Anthony’s center collected the loose puck and scored on a wrap around to give the Friars a 7-3 lead with 7:09 remaining in the final frame. 

Scoring Summary

Three Stars of the Game

A Rematch With Playoff Implications

The Northport Huntington Tigers will face off with the Ward Melville Patriots at the Rinx at Hidden Ponds Park on Sunday January 7th at 7:50 PM. In their first meeting of the season Sean Tittel scored the game winning goal in overtime as the Tigers defeated the Patriots 4-3.

A Showdown with Sachem

The St. Anthony’s Friars will square off with Sachem at the Rinx at Hidden Ponds Park on Monday January 8th at 8:10 PM. In their first meeting of the campaign, Richie Bovich scored the game winning goal as Sachem defeated St. Anthony’s 5-3.