2/21/04
Quick Leads #2 Avon in Battle of Founder's League Iron
Salisbury, Conn. – A John Mori slapshot from the right faceoff circle at the 2:43 mark of the third period broke open a 2-2 tie and propelled #2-ranked Avon to a 5-2 win over #4 Salisbury before a packed house here this afternoon.
The difference in the game, which was an intense full-throttle, wide-open affair with as much heated emotion as we’ve seen from two teams this season, was the play of Jon Quick, Avon’s junior goaltender from Hamden, Conn. Quick, who according to the scoresheet kicked out 53 of 55 shots (we think that’s a little high), was terrific throughout, using his size and quick feet to limit Salisbury to a pair of power play goals.
Avon opened the scoring at the 5:29 mark of the first period when Chris Davis, on a 2-on-1, fed linemate Augie DiMarzo in tight. DiMarzo, driving hard to the net, banged it past Salisbury junior goalie Jeff Mack.
Avon made it 2-0 with 41 seconds left in the period. The goal was very similar to its predecessor, though this time it was an even-strength goal, and the players were flip-flopped, with DiMarzo feeding Davis.
In the second, Salisbury came out hard, and dominated the game. Just 1:55 in, the Steaks, on the power play, got on theboard when junior center Mike Atkinson deflected a shot from the right point by Brad Baldelli.
At the 12:43 mark, and again on the power play, Salisbury wing Jerry Pollastrone blasted a shot from the top of the right faceoff circle to tie the game up at 2-2. Andrew Estey picked up the assist on the goal.
Salisbury had numerous other chances to score in the second period. With a lesser goalie than Quick, Salisbury would have headed into the second intermission up by several goals. Instead, they skated off with a 2-2 tie.
In the third period, Avon didn’t let Salisbury regain the fire they showed in the second.
After Mori gave Avon the lead back at the 2:43 mark, Winged Beavers’ junior forward Rob Tesar made it 4-2 at the 4:30 mark to put Avon up by two. DiMarzo took a pass from Davis to make it 5-2 with an empty-net goal with 22 seconds left. It was the third point of the day for both DiMarzo and Davis.
Notes -- In other Top 10 action: #5 Thayer, on a third-period goal by Greg Collins, topped visiting St.. Paul’s, 2-1…. #8 Gov. Dummer’s Brian Day (1g,2a) and Brian McGuirk (3a) had productive days in the Governors’ 4-4 home tie with St. Sebastian’s. Nick Coskren (1g,2a) and Ted Brzek (2g) paced the Arrows… #3 Taft topped Choate, 6-3; no further details are available…. We’re still waiting on the Kimball Union at #1 Cushing game, and the Holderness at #9 Tabor game…. For more details please see the box scores under game results above.
