St. Anthony’s outlasted Middle Country 9-7 in a back-and-forth Game 3 at The Rinx – North Rink on Monday, clinching the SCHSHL freshman division championship. The win completed a series comeback for the Friars, who entered the night leading 2-1 after dropping Game 1 by a 4-0 score to the underdog Cougars.
Middle Country, the No. 8 seed making a run at history, came out firing and built a 4-3 lead after one period. Dylan Dechiaro scored twice in the frame, sandwiching goals from Grayson Giommetti and Mason Lasalla, while Derek Johnson and Jesse Verdecanna later ignited the bench with goals just ten seconds apart in the second period to keep the Cougars within striking distance. Johnson finished with two goals and an assist, and Jack Conlon chipped in two helpers as Middle Country spread the offense across eight different scorers.
St. Anthony’s answered by pulling away in the second period, outscoring Middle Country 5-2 in the frame behind two goals apiece from Francesco Mannino and Reginald Henry III. Aiden Kollm
