St. Anthony’s advanced to the SCHSHL freshman semifinals with a 6-3 win over Southampton on Monday at The Rinx – South Rink, riding a five-point performance from Jake Evans to fend off a feisty upset bid. Evans finished with two goals and three assists, factoring in five of St. Anthony’s six goals as the Friars improved to 15-2 on the season.
Southampton, the 11-8 underdog, matched St. Anthony’s blow for blow early. Logan McCauley opened the scoring at 13:12 of the first period with helpers from Francesco Mannino and Evans, but Martin O’Sullivan answered immediately at the same mark to tie it 1-1 on a feed from William Mistretta. McCauley struck again at 10:45, assisted once more by Evans, before Declan McNamee’s power-play goal at 1:50 — set up by Cam Minardi and O’Sullivan — pulled Southampton even at 2-2 after one period.
The second period belonged to St. Anthony’s. Landon Ivezaj scored off an Evans assist at 14:04, and Evans himself buried the game-winner at 10:48 with helpers from McCauley and Brody Morbillo, pushing the Friars’ lead to 4-2. McNamee answered with his second of the game at 7:36 to keep Southampton within one, but St. Anthony’s closed the door in the third when Evans scored again at 14:06 off an Ivezaj feed, and Nicholas Tizzano added a short-handed goal at 13:41 to make it 6-3. Southampton pulled its goalie for a 6-on-4 look in the final two minutes while on the power play, but couldn’t find a way past St. Anthony’s defense.
Morbillo picked up the win in net for St. Anthony’s, allowing three goals, while Scott Armusewicz III took the loss for Southampton after allowing six. McCauley finished with two goals and an assist for three points, and O’Sullivan led Southampton with a goal and two assists. Francesco Mannino was whistled for three penalties, drawing 6 of his team’s PIM in the loss.
St. Anthony’s now turns its attention to the semifinal round, looking to continue its deep playoff push, while Southampton’s season comes to a close after a determined but ultimately unsuccessful comeback attempt.
