Aiden Marchese scored three times for Kings Park/Commack (JV), but St. Anthony’s Gold (JV) answered every push in a 7-5 win Monday night at The Rinx – South Rink. Reeve Chero had a goal and three assists, and Benjamin Grzan and Ryan Schechter each scored twice for St. Anthony’s, which moved to 1-1-0-0. Kings Park/Commack fell to 1-1-0-0.
The game was a rematch of last season’s first-round playoff meeting, a 5-0 St. Anthony’s win, and the home side struck quickly. Chero opened the scoring on a wraparound with 14:33 left in the first, assisted by Kevin Beckman, and Grzan made it 2-0 just 15 seconds later off a feed from Matthew McKenna. Kings Park/Commack responded with Samuel Canino’s goal from Ryan Schwartz and an unassisted tally by Justin Mezzasalma that tied it 2-2 with 9:56 left. St. Anthony’s regained control before intermission, as Beckman scored off a Grzan assist and McKenna added an unassisted goal with 2:56 remaining for a 4-2 lead.
Schechter pushed the margin to 5-2 early in the second, and that is when Marchese took over. The Kings Park/Commack captain, who entered the night with three goals and an assist in one game, was all over the ice, scoring unassisted with 3:53 and 1:35 left in the period to cut the deficit to 5-4. St. Anthony’s answered again, as Schechter finished a Chero pass with 15 seconds left in the second for what stood as the game-winner.
Marchese completed the hat trick on a penalty shot with 13:59 left in the third, after his earlier goals included a breakaway, to pull Kings Park/Commack back within 6-5. Grzan restored the two-goal cushion 2:39 later, scoring on a deflection with Chero assisting. Beckman added to his night with steady work moving the puck through traffic, and McKenna held possession under pressure in a strong two-way effort.
Kings Park/Commack kept pressing. Carson Esturo, who came on in relief of starter Joseph Cucciniello, made a quick reflex stop on a late deflection to keep his team close. St. Anthony’s called a timeout during a late Kings Park/Commack power play, killed the penalty and held the puck for much of the final minutes. Jayce Vanasco earned the win, allowing five goals, while Esturo took the loss after allowing two and Cucciniello allowed five.
Both teams will look to move above .500 in their next outings.
