1/15/05
Deerfield Wins Ugly
Pawling, New York - Deerfield took too many unnecessary penalties, had too much difficulty clearing their own zone, and let Trinity-Pawling hang around too long, but held on for a 3-1 win Saturday in a game that can only be described as ugly.
Leading 1-0 going into the third period, thanks to a Tommy Schmicker goal with less than three minutes remaining in the previous stanza, Deerfield came out with hopes pf putting away a physical and feisty Trinity-Pawling team that was riddled with injuries and illnesses (T-P dressed four JV players for the game). Trinity-Pawling, of course, had other ideas.
The beneficiary of a rather questionable call, Trinity-Pawling went on the power play at the 12:51 mark of the third period, and finally took advantage of the extra skater. Having pinned Deerfield in their own end for the entire first minute of the power play, T-P senior Brendan Smith dug the puck out of the corner to the right of Deerfield goalie Rick Redmond, and fed a pass to Josh Stone, who was inching in from the left point. Stone unleashed a slapshot that somehow found its way through a crowd in front of a screened Redmond, and the score was tied at 1-1.
Playing their second game in less than 24 hours, Deerfield seemed to wake up after the T-P goal , as less than three minutes later, Deerfield's Mike Collins beat Trinity Pawling goalie Travis Myers on a pretty puck movement rush. Josh Lesko and Matt Lentini assisted on this goal – and it would prove to be the game-winner.
Deerfield scored again, just fifty seconds later, as Matt Lovejoy scored on a slapshot from the left point after receiving a nice set up pass from right defenseman Jeff Landers.
The game, which had moments of ugliness building since the opening of the second period, got really nasty when, long after a whistle stopped play in front of the Trinity-Pawling net, T-P's Ryan Hennessy speared a Deerfield player in the neck. Hennessy was given a 5-minute major and tossed from the game. Deerfield was unable to convert during the long man advantage, and with 2:51 left in the game and 1:04 remaining in the major penalty, Deerfield was called for roughing, setting up a 4-on-4 for most of the remainder. Trinity Pawling pulled Myers with over a minute left to play, giving them the extra skater, but was unable to score.
The game ended with no further mishaps.
-- B.P.
