Keith Jackson and Cameron Haggerty scored, and Connetquot/Sayville/BBP Red (FR) held off a late push for a 2-1 victory over East Islip Red (FR) on Monday at The Rinx – South Rink. Both teams entered 0-1-0-0 after season-opening losses. Connetquot left with its first win and a 1-1-0-0 record, while East Islip fell to 0-2-0-0.
Jackson opened the scoring with 1:02 left in the first period on an even-strength goal set up by Haggerty. It was Jackson’s second goal of the season after he scored once in the opener. In a physical contest that produced nine penalties, Connetquot’s defense took away East Islip’s passes through the middle for most of the night.
The second period proved to be the turning point. East Islip’s penalties gave Connetquot extended power-play time, including a 5-on-3 advantage. East Islip goaltender Declan Grieve played well outside his crease and came up with big stops during the two-man advantage to keep it a one-goal game. Haggerty then made it 2-0 with 4:23 left in the period, deflecting a Benjamin Hoffman shot from the point for the game-winner. Joell Antoniou also earned an assist on the goal. Haggerty finished with a goal and an assist, his first points of the season.
East Islip answered on a power play early in the third. Liam Vansteen used his edges and a toe drag to work free and finished an unassisted goal with 12:42 remaining, cutting the deficit to 2-1. It was Vansteen’s first goal of the season, and it gave East Islip momentum for the rest of the period.
East Islip pressed for the equalizer and rang a shot off the post with under two minutes to play, then used a timeout with about a minute left to set up a final push. Jake McDermott, composed and sharp in net all night for Connetquot, allowed only Vansteen’s goal and earned the win. His teammates celebrated at the final horn. Grieve took the loss after allowing two goals.
Both teams will try to build on Monday’s game as their freshman seasons continue.
