Thomas Becker scored three times in the final two periods to lift Team Blue to a 6-2 win over Team White on Saturday at Northwell Health Ice Center, breaking open a game that was tied 2-2 through two periods. Becker’s goals came at 4:55 of the second period and at 11:50 and 2:09 of the third, capping a four-goal unanswered run for Blue after White had briefly grabbed momentum.
Ethan Sweeney opened the scoring for Blue at 10:15 of the first period, a goal that triggered the ceremonial Teddy Bear Toss benefiting Stony Brook Children’s Hospital. Phillip Vecchione added a goal on an assist from Michael Rossman before White answered with two of their own, as Tristan Connolly and Bryce Lawniczak found the net just over a minute apart to tie the game 2-2. Lawniczak’s goal came on a power play after Matthew Mazun was whistled for hooking.
The third period belonged to Blue, with Becker bookending a goal from Matthew Piliero to turn a tight contest into a comfortable win. White pushed back late, nearly cutting into the deficit when a Blue defender was caught flat-footed in the slot with under a minute remaining, but the chance was turned away. Gabriel Dimitrakopoulos picked up the win in net for Blue, allowing two goals, while Austin Lawniczak closed out the victory without allowing a goal. Hunter Ellis and Lorenzo Governali split time in net for White, allowing two and four goals, respectively, in the loss.
Despite the lopsided final score, the game was tightly contested for two periods before Blue’s third-period surge decided it. Both squads will look to build on Saturday’s showing as the LI Warriors Summer Shootout continues.
