Grady Craig scored twice and Evan Goldstein added a goal and two assists as Longwood White (FR) opened its season with a 5-2 win over Smithtown/Hauppauge Blue (FR) on Wednesday night at The Rinx – North Rink. Craig and Goldstein each finished with three points, and Brian Dillon chipped in a goal and an assist for Longwood, which improved to 1-0-0-0.
Dillon opened the scoring with 5:31 left in the first period, burying a bouncing puck in the slot off a feed from Lucas Veraldi. Craig took over from there in the second. He showed real poise on the power play with 12:46 remaining, then struck again at even strength with 9:56 left, using the defenders in front of him as a screen. Goldstein assisted on both goals, and Cayden Sobarzo also picked up an assist on the second, which made it 3-0 and stood as the game-winner.
Goldstein, who along with Craig came over from Southampton, was a constant threat all night and rang the crossbar during the second period. The top line of Craig, Goldstein and John Lechmanski drove much of Longwood’s attack. Their chemistry suggests the pairing will be a key part of Longwood’s season.
Smithtown/Hauppauge did not fold. Anthony Mendell scored from Anthony Donnarumma with 4:47 left in the second, and Cody Haley followed from Brendan Gigantiello with 1:53 remaining. The two quick goals cut the deficit to 3-2, drew a loud response from the crowd and swung the momentum heading into the third. Donnarumma was effective moving the puck up ice from the back end throughout the night.
Goldstein restored the two-goal cushion with a one-timer with 7:00 left in regulation, set up by Craig. Raymond Boos then sealed it with 2:36 remaining, finishing a breakaway with a head fake and a shot high to the glove side off a pass from Dillon. Connor Frey kept Smithtown/Hauppauge within reach with a series of highlight stops, closing with a glove save on a Goldstein backhand-to-forehand move in the final minute. Frey was charged with the loss, and Colton Sganga earned the win for Longwood, allowing two goals.
Smithtown/Hauppauge (0-1-0-0) will look to build on its second-period push as it seeks its first win of the season.
