Friars Take Game One 

HAUPPAUGE N.Y. (LISN) — Senior James Schendorf recorded a hat-trick and added an assist as the St. Anthony’s Friars defeated the Smithtown/ Hauppauge Bulls 6-5 in Game One of the SCHSHL Finals. 

Junior Zack Sirel scored once in a three point performance. 

Junior Anthony Cutalo added a power play goal and two assists. 

Senior Dom Feiler backstopped the Friars to victory over Senior Aidan Halliday and the Bulls.

Head Coach Bob Lund and St. Anthony’s took game one of the finals last year, but Smithtown/Hauppauge pulled off the reverse sweep to deny the Friars a third consecutive title. Now, Head Coach Mark Dubeau and Smithtown/Hauppauge need to win game two on Wednesday, February 19 for a chance to do it again.

Not only is this a rematch of last years’ finals, but for many players it is a rematch of the 2022-2023 Junior Varsity Championship when the Bulls pulled off — you guessed it — a reverse sweep against the Friars.

Junior Dean Falcone scored the first goal of the finals to give the Bulls a 1-0 lead at 12:04 in the 1st period. Falcone gained possession at the top of the right wing dot before sniping low blocker side. 

22 seconds later, Schendorf tied the game for the Friars. Schendorf received a cross ice pass before firing a shot from the slot that beat Halliday stick side as he moved right to left. 

43 seconds later, Sirel scored to give St. Anthony’s a 2-1 lead. Sirel chipped the puck out of his own zone, raced up ice, and sniped glove side high. 

Senior Jackson Cantalupo netted his first of the night at 8:42 in the opening stanza to knot things up at 2. 

Senior Ray Sherwood fired a shot that was redirected by Senior Gavin Bareham, and Cantalupo buried the rebound from the back door.

Cutalo gave the Friars the lead with a power-play goal with 6:07 remaining in the first frame. Schendorf made a cross crease pass to Cutalo, who lit the lamp with a one-timer. 

Schendorf netted his second of the night to extend the St. Anthony’s lead to 4-2 with 13:00 left in the 2nd period. Schendorf came in 3 on 2, made a drop pass, slipped past the defense, and opened up to receive a pass from Senior James Aspromonti. Schendorf cut to the net and went forehand-backhand. 

Senior David Wetzel responded for the Bulls with a power-play marker to cut the deficit to 4-3 at 7:31 in the second stanza. Wetzel went top shelf on a shot from the right wing dot. 

Senior Joe Rocca restored the two goal lead with 5:23 remaining in the second frame. After a point-blank save by Halliday and a failed clearing attempt by the Bulls, Senior Brody O’Doherty fired a shot from the point that led to a rebound goal for Rocca. 

55 seconds later, Cantalupo scored his second of the night to make it a 5-4 game. Cantalupo evaded multiple defenders as he weaved up ice before sniping stick side. 

Schendorf netted the power play, game-winning goal to complete the hat-trick and make it 6-4 St. Anthony’s with 11:01 left in the 3rd period. Schendorf sniped five-hole on a shot from beneath the right wing face off circle. 

Sophomore Aidan Landrigan answered for the Bulls on a shot from the slot with 9:02 remaining in the final frame.

The Friars held on to win 6-5. 

Box Score

Three Stars of the Game