Matthew Davidson delivered a spectacular performance Sunday afternoon at Islanders Iceworks, recording four goals and five points to lead Wantagh/Seaford/Plainedge to a commanding 8-3 victory over Plainview-Old Bethpage/Island Trees in NYIHSHL middle school action. The senior forward’s hat trick and five-point explosion highlighted a dominant offensive display that saw the winners outscore their opponents 5-1 in a blistering first period before cruising to victory.
Davidson wasted little time making his mark, scoring twice within 50 seconds midway through the opening frame to stake his team to an early advantage. The prolific scorer, who entered the contest with 15 goals and 23 points in 14 games, added two more tallies in the third period to complete his four-goal masterpiece. His final two goals came just 1:45 apart late in the frame, capping off a performance that showcased why he’s been one of the league’s most consistent offensive threats.
The first period belonged entirely to Wantagh/Seaford/Plainedge, as they built a seemingly insurmountable 5-1 lead behind Davidson’s early pair and additional markers from Jaxon Aschettino, Keith Kern, and Luke Becker. Kern‘s goal at 2:41 proved to be the game-winner, while Becker‘s tally with just four seconds remaining in the period put an exclamation point on the opening-frame onslaught. Travis Kenney provided the lone bright spot for Plainview-Old Bethpage/Island Trees, scoring at 6:58 to briefly stem the tide.
Plainview-Old Bethpage/Island Trees showed resilience in the second period, outscoring their opponents 1-0 on Sebastian Bosco‘s unassisted goal at 14:25. However, any momentum gained was quickly extinguished in the third period as Davidson took over once again. The visitors managed just one more goal from Kenney, his second of the game, but it was far from enough to mount a serious comeback attempt.
The victory improved Wantagh/Seaford/Plainedge’s record to 11-5 as they continue their strong campaign in the second annual New York Islander High School Hockey League Middle School Championship. For Plainview-Old Bethpage/Island Trees, the loss dropped them to 2-14, extending their struggles in what has been a challenging season. Goaltender Drew Benintendo faced a barrage of 32 shots, making 24 saves despite the lopsided final score.
The dominant performance served as a statement win for Wantagh/Seaford/Plainedge, who had previously defeated these same opponents 4-1 back in October. With Davidson’s offensive explosion leading the way and contributions throughout the lineup, they demonstrated the balanced attack that has made them one of the league’s more formidable middle school programs this season.
