Justin Masone scored twice in 17 seconds late in the second period, and Eastport-South Manor (VR) rallied for a 6-4 win over Smithtown/Hauppauge (VR) on Wednesday night at The Rinx – North Rink. The victory was the first varsity win in Eastport-South Manor’s history. It moved the team to 1-1-1-0, while Smithtown/Hauppauge fell to 2-1-0-1.
Smithtown/Hauppauge struck first when Matt Stampfel finished a feed from Robert Auerbach with 7:10 left in the first period. The second period opened with a quick exchange that brought the crowd to life. Alexander Wojciechowski tied it with 13:38 left after a slick setup from Masone, with Jacob St. Clair also assisting, for his fourth goal in three games. Marcus D’Errico answered just 20 seconds later, assisted by Ryan Anderson and John Avlonitis, to put Smithtown/Hauppauge back in front 2-1.
The game turned for good over the final 5:34 of the period. Masone, who entered the night without a point, tied the game on the power play off a pass from Alex Jablonski. Seventeen seconds later he scored again at even strength, assisted by Dino Lisica and Dylan Gray, to give Eastport-South Manor its first lead of the night. Jablonski then made it 4-2 with nine seconds left in the period on a feed from St. Clair, capping three unanswered goals.
D’Errico pulled Smithtown/Hauppauge within 4-3 with 10:47 left in the third, assisted by Avlonitis. Damian Zacharewicz kept the lead intact by shutting down a two-on-one and then gloving Ryan Anderson’s breakaway in the closing minutes. Smithtown/Hauppauge called a timeout with 1:51 remaining and pulled Nicholas Serpico for an extra attacker.
The final minute produced three goals. Hugo Schleiffelder scored an unassisted shorthanded goal with 54 seconds left for his first goal of the season, and it drew the loudest roar of the night. Logan Kircher answered for Smithtown/Hauppauge on the power play with 35 seconds left, finishing from wide open off assists from Stampfel and Luke Anderson. Jablonski then sealed the win with an empty-net goal with five seconds remaining.
Jablonski and Masone each finished with two goals and an assist, and St. Clair added two assists. Zacharewicz earned the win, allowing four goals, while Serpico took the loss after allowing five. For Smithtown/Hauppauge, D’Errico scored twice, Stampfel had a goal and an assist, and Avlonitis set up two goals. Eastport-South Manor will try to build on its milestone night, while Smithtown/Hauppauge looks to regroup after its first regulation loss of the season.
