West Islip Defeats Longwood In OT

James Barbieri scored the game winning goal as the West Islip Lions (4-10-0-1) defeated the Longwood Lions (0-14-0-1) by a final score of 1-0. Braiden Buccino pitched his first career SCHSHL Varsity shutout in his second win of the season for West Islip. Anthony Frega was sensational in a heartbreaking overtime loss for Longwood.

The West Islip Lions moved into eighth place Friday night’s win, but whether or not they remain there will be determined on Sunday January 7th at 7:50 PM when the Northport Huntington Tigers take on the Ward Melville Patriots at the Rinx at Hidden Ponds Park. The Patriots are one point back in the standings of the Lions, but also have one game in hand. In their first meeting of the season the Northport Huntington Tigers defeated the Ward Melville Patriots 4-3 in overtime.

Brandon Scheuermann set the tone for Longwood on a two on one odd man rush in the first minute of regulation. The Longwood sniper, who has three hat tricks on the season, threaded the needle on pass to Ryan Finamore that would have resulted in an early one goal lead for Longwood if not for the heroics of West Islip netminder Braiden Buccino. Ayden Azmoun and Nick Gigante also generated several key scoring chances in the first period. Longwood continued to press but James Barbieri, Liam Henshaw and William Shields answered back with a flurry of shots that were turned aside by Anthony Frega. An elbowing minor that was assessed to Shields put Longwood on the power play, but West Islip successfully killed off the penalty.

After offsetting roughing minors were assessed to Longwood’s Benny Rodriguez and West Islip’s Andrew Mervyak in the 2nd period, Jackson Allen was sent to the box for cross-checking. The West Islip Penalty kill did a great job of keeping the Longwood Lions from generating high danger scoring chances on the power play.

After West Islip successfully killed off a two minute tripping minor that went against Andrew Mervyak in the 3rd period, Longwood’s Ryan Finamore was called for slashing with 5:56 remaining in frame. West Islip couldn’t capitalize on the power play. After forty-five minutes of action the game would head to overtime.

With 2:33 remaining in overtime, James Barbieri beat Frega short side after a tremendous first save by the Longwood netminder against the aforementioned overtime hero for West Islip. The game was defined by the sensational saves of Buccino and Frega who kept the game scoreless in the first forty-five minutes of the game. Aydan Azmoun created havoc on both sides of the ice as the Longwood center went toe-to-toe with West Islip All-Star William Shields. West Islip defenseman Liam Henshaw and Longwood winger Brandon Scheuermann were both standout performers with their excellent two-way games.

West Islip was able to rely on Jackson Allen, Charles Brandenstein, Andrew Mervyak, Spencer Jordan and Charles Salamone down the stretch with their Captain Ciaran Pollard out of the lineup. Finn Wood was also unavailable for West Islip. Cole Del Bianco, Ryan Finamore, Jacob Storm and Michael Paduano looked strong in Longwood’s first overtime loss of the season. Longwood was without Griffin Braun, Christopher Primiani and Jason Ruland in Friday night’s game.

Scoring Summary

Penalties by Period

Three Stars of the Game

Looking To Build On A Tightly Contested Game

The Longwood Lions will take on the Connetquot Sayville BBP T-Birds at the Rinx at Hidden Ponds Park on Sunday January 14th at 7:50 PM. In their first meeting of the season the T-Birds defeated the Lions 7-0.

The Need For Points As The Playoff Race Picks Up

The West Islip Lions will take on the St. Anthony’s Friars on Monday January 15th at 8:10 PM. In their first meeting of the season Friars narrowly evaded an upset as the Lions scored three 3rd period goals in a 5-4 loss.