Spencer Goldblatt delivered a masterful hat trick performance, including the game-winning goal, as Half Hollow Hills Middle School overcame a furious Massapequa comeback to secure a 6-4 victory Sunday at Clark Gillies Arena. The prolific scorer, who entered the contest with 44 goals in just 13 games, added three more to his impressive tally while helping the Hawks improve to 12-4 on the season.
Half Hollow Hills exploded out of the gate with a dominant first period, building a commanding 3-0 lead that appeared to put the game away early. Lola Bleiman opened the scoring at 10:13 with assists from Keegan Maguire and Jordan Bobkin, followed by Antonio Napolitano’s even-strength tally at 8:26 with help from Jason Castellano. Maguire capped the early barrage with just 21 seconds remaining in the opening frame, receiving a return assist from Bleiman.
The second period transformed into a penalty-filled affair with both teams combining for eight infractions, but Massapequa used the chaos to mount their comeback. The Chiefs scored three times in the middle frame, with goals from Gavin Degen (unassisted at 12:58), Kyle Moore (assisted by Mario Digangi at 8:47), and Liam Schnatter (assisted by Madden Schneidler at 3:21). Goldblatt managed to stem the tide temporarily with his first goal at 11:00, but Massapequa had closed the gap to 4-3 heading into the final period.
The third period belonged entirely to Goldblatt, who completed his hat trick with two crucial goals that proved to be the difference. His game-winner came at 9:50, an unassisted effort that showcased the individual brilliance that has made him one of the league’s most dangerous scorers. After Schnatter pulled Massapequa within one with his second goal of the game at 3:06, Goldblatt sealed the victory with another unassisted marker at 3:49, demonstrating his clutch gene in the game’s most critical moments.
The victory was particularly sweet for Half Hollow Hills, which had dropped their previous meeting with Massapequa 10-7 back in October. Goaltending proved crucial as the Hawks used a two-goalie system effectively, with Logan Galvez stopping 12 of 14 shots (.857 save percentage) and Billy Dramisiotis turning aside 8 of 10 attempts (.800 save percentage). For Massapequa, the loss dropped them to 8-8 on the season despite strong performances from Schnatter’s two-goal effort and Mario Digangi’s two assists.
The game’s physical nature was evident in the penalty statistics, with 16 total infractions handed out, including four penalties to Goldblatt and Bleiman despite their offensive contributions. The victory keeps Half Hollow Hills in strong position as the NYIHSHL regular season winds down, while Massapequa will need to regroup quickly to maintain their playoff positioning in what has become an increasingly competitive middle school division.
