Connor Storz scored six goals and added two assists, and Eastport-South Manor (DV) beat East Islip Black (DV) 17-1 on Wednesday night at The Rinx – South Rink. Eastport-South Manor was new to the developmental division, and the result reversed the outcome between the same two schools at the varsity level two days earlier, when East Islip won 8-1.
Storz scored with 14:28 left in the first period, and Darren Kenneally added what stood as the winner about two minutes later off a feed from Cameron Fine. Laird De Vera scored unassisted, and Storz struck again with 5:40 remaining to make it 4-0 after one. Eastport-South Manor’s forecheck kept East Islip pinned in its own end for long stretches.
The second period turned into an eight-goal onslaught. Shortly after De Vera made it 5-0, East Islip replaced starter Chase Barnett with Luke Vigliotta, a right-catching goaltender, which is an unusual sight. Storz finished the period with three more goals. On one of them he slipped past a defender, fought through a stick check and buried the puck, which drew loud applause from the crowd. His goal with 7:53 left made it 10-0 and set off more cheers. Storz and De Vera had combined for 10 points through two periods.
Fine scored three times in the second to complete his hat trick. Evan Downs then scored three straight goals for his team, starting on the power play with 1:13 left in the middle period and continuing with two more early in the third. Downs finished with three goals and four assists, De Vera had two goals and five assists, and Gianni Privitera added three assists. Eastport-South Manor went 2-for-3 on the power play.
Blake Cooney scored the first goal of his career with 5:15 left in the third, then added another for a two-goal, two-assist night. Kaleb Hay ended the shutout bid with 19 seconds remaining, scoring off an assist from Anthony Raguseo. Lincoln Miller earned the win with one goal against, and Eastport-South Manor’s players didn’t look pleased to give up the late goal. Vigliotta took the loss, and the teams went through the customary handshake line at the end.
Eastport-South Manor opens its season 1-0-0-0, while East Islip Black falls to 0-2-0-0 and will look for its first win in its next outing.
