Smithtown Hauppauge Steamrolls Sachem     

John Avlonitis scored twice in a three point performance to lift the Smithtown Hauppauge Bulls to a 8-4 victory over Sachem in Game One of the SCHSHL JV Finals. The Smithtown Hauppauge Bulls will enter Friday night’s game just one win away from securing their second consecutive championship. Puck drop is set for 10:10 PM at the Rinx at Hidden Ponds Park.

The Bulls top line of Brayden Beltrani, Marcus D’Errico and Michael Wagner set the tone in the opening frame. All three members of the line tallied two points or more. Down the stretch it was John Avlonitis, Aidan Landrigan and Christian Semetsis who got the job done for Smithtown Hauppauge. Avlonitis, Landrigan and Semetsis all found the back of the net in game one. Jack Pring started in goal for the Smithtown Hauppauge Bulls. Anthony Mare got the nod in net for Sachem.

Just 36 seconds into the opening frame, Smithtown Hauppauge jumped out to a 1-0 lead courtesy of Brayden Beltrani. Michael Wagner led a 3-2 odd man rush and made a cross ice seam pass to Beltrani who lifted a backhand shot over the shoulder of the Sachem netminder. Chase Saunders scored with 11:29 remaining in the first frame to tie the game at 1-1. Matt Bispo was turned aside by Jack Pring before Saunders cashed in on the rebound from the doorstep. 50 seconds later, Michael Wagner scored to put Smithtown Hauppauge back up by one. The Bulls captain sniped short side to beat the netminder low blocker after rolling off the wall to complete a give-and-go with Brayden Beltrani. Dean Falcone netted his first goal of the post-season to extend the lead to two with 2:56 left in the 1st period. Falcone stepped into a howitzer from the point that beat Mare stick side high to pop the water bottle. John Avlonitis found the back of the net to put Smithtown Hauppauge up 4-1 with :43 seconds left in the frame. Christian Semetis split the defense, Sachem regained possession and turned it over on the doorstep where Avlonitis made no mistake. 16 seconds later, James Drago lit the lamp to cut the lead to 4-2. The Sachem forward sniped top shelf from the point after a turnover from Smithtown Hauppauge that came after Matt Bispo was separated from the puck just inside the Bulls blue line. Just 12 seconds later, Christian Semetsis answered the bell for Smithtown Hauppauge to make it a 5-2 game. Semetsis dangled past the defense, came in on a 1 on 0, and beat Mare glove side as the Sachem netminder slid right-to-left. It was the third goal scored in a span of 28 seconds. 

Aidan Landrigan jabbed one home to put the Bulls up 6-2 with 10:56 remaining in the second stanza. Landrigan poked a loose puck through the five-hole of Mare before he could get the cover. C.J. Pena responded for Sachem to cut the Smithtown Hauppauge lead back to 3 with 8:30 left in the second frame. Matt Bispo made a drop pass to Pena, who cut towards center to fire a shot that was blocked before regathering the puck and sniping stick side high. 

Sachem came out flying in the 3rd period which led to two consecutive power play opportunities. Jack Pring stood on his head on the penalty kill for the Bulls before Christian Semetsis netted a shorthanded goal to put the Bulls up 7-3 with 7:16 remaining in the 3rd period. Semetsis forced a turnover in his own zone, wheeled up ice and sniped top corner. John Avlonitis scored with 2:35 left in the third frame to put Smithtown Hauppauge up by five. Avlonitis tucked it home from the doorstep off a beautiful give-and-go with Aidan Landrigan. Sachem called timeout after the Bulls took an 8-3 lead. Matt Bispo scored with 20 seconds left in regulation. A shot caromed off the end boards to the back door where Bispo tapped it home. 

Official Scoring Summary

Three Stars of the Game