Sachem Cruzes To Victory  

Official Box Score

Roman Cruz completed the natural hat-trick en route to scoring four times in the 1st period of an eventual five goal performance as the Sachem Warriors defeated the East Islip Chiefs 8-4 in game one of the SCHSHL Freshman Finals. Will Trapani added two markers in the 2nd period and Ryan Rutigliano potted one in the barn burner win. Joe Violente made 17 saves on 21 shots for the Sachem Warriors. 

Sachem will look to complete the series sweep at the Rinx in Hauppauge, NY on Saturday March 16th as we go live for puck drop at 6:30 PM on the Long Island Sports Network.

Jordan Haines, Dylan Schlict, Ryan Bradley and Jack Fontaine scored for the East Islip Chiefs. Travis Martin started in goal for EI, making 3 stops on the first six shots of the game before being relieved by Joe Sasso. Martin reentered the game in the 3rd period and made 10 saves on 11 shots. Martin finished with 14 saves on 17 shots. Joe Sasso entered in the 1st period after Cruz completed the natural hat trick before being pulled in the 3rd period. Sasso finished the game with 21 stops on 25 shots for EI. 

Roman Cruz opened the scoring with 12:54 remaining in the 1st period before potting his second of the game just 17 seconds later. Cruz completed the natural hat-trick to give Sachem a 3-0 lead with 8:34 left in the first frame. Joe Sasso relieved Travis Martin after Cruz’s third goal in a span of four minutes. Jordan Haines scored a breakaway goal to put the East Islip Chiefs on the board with 3:09 remaining in the opening period. Roman Cruz lit the lamp to put Sachem back up by three with 33 seconds left in the first frame. Cruz’s fourth goal of the 1st period gave Sachem a 4-1 lead. The Warriors outshot the Chiefs 14-5 after one. 

Dylan Schlict scored to make it a 4-2 game in the second stanza. Will Trapani scored twice in the 2nd period, including the game winner as well as a shorthanded goal, to give the Warriors a 6-2 lead. Sachem narrowly outshot East Islip 12-10 in the second frame. 

Ryan Rutigliano scored a shorthanded goal to put the Sachem Warriors up 7-2. Joe Sasso came out of his crease to play the puck before Rutigliano forced a turnover and fired it into a wide open cage. EI put Travis Martin back in the game following the goal. Ryan Bradley scored with 7:49 remaining, but just 41 seconds later Roman Cruz found the back of the net for his fifth of the game. Jack Fontaine scored with 2:48 remaining to make it an 8-4 game. Sachem outshot East Islip 16-7 in the 3rd period. The Warriors had a total of 42 shots to the Chiefs 21.

Three Stars Of The Game