CENTEREACH, N.Y. — St. Anthony’s stormed back from an early deficit with five unanswered goals to beat Middle Country 5-1 on Saturday, evening their best-of-three semifinal series at one game apiece and forcing a decisive Game 3. The Friars, who dropped Game 1 in a 4-0 shutout loss, needed the response after entering the postseason having lost just one game in regulation all season.
Middle Country struck first when Dylan Dechiaro buried an unassisted goal at 8:36 of the first period, giving the eighth-seeded Cougars an early lead and a shot at continuing their improbable postseason run. St. Anthony’s answered before the period ended when Logan McCauley scored off a Jake Evans assist at 2:39, tying the game and setting the tone for what would become a lopsided finish. The second period belonged entirely to the Friars, who scored three times — Reginald Henry III netted the go-ahead goal at 12:58 with helpers from Nicholas Neuner and Francesco Mannino, while Evans scored twice himself, both assisted by Landon Ivezaj, to push the lead to 4-1 heading into the third.
Evans finished with two goals and two assists for a four-point night, while McCauley added his second goal of the game in the third period, again assisted by Evans, to cap the scoring. Brody Morbillo picked up the win in net for St. Anthony’s, allowing just the one goal, while Jack Lasalla took the loss for Middle Country after allowing five. The game featured plenty of penalties on both sides, including minors for Neuner, Francesco Mannino, and Henry for St. Anthony’s, and Derek Johnson, Lucas Reyes, and Lasalla for Middle Country, reflecting the physical nature of the fourth meeting between these two clubs this season.
With the series now tied 1-1, the two teams will meet for a decisive Game 3 to determine who advances. Middle Country will look to complete the finishing touches on a
