Hockey
Marko's late heroics keep Sweet Home perfect in Fed
by PATRICK J. NAGY Reporter

Ryan Marko couldn't be stopped this week and neither could the Sweet Home hockey team.

Marko had 11 points in three Section VI Western New York Varsity Hockey Federation games, including a short-handed goal with 13 seconds left in regulation, to lift the Panthers over St. Francis, 4-3, on Sunday at Buffalo State College. The win improved Sweet Home to 9-0 in Federation play, 12-2 overall. Wins over Williamsville East on Thursday, Amherst on Saturday and Timon on Sunday ensures the Panthers its first trip in school history to the Division II regionals.

The Panthers were ahead, 3-0, in the second period before St. Francis scored the next three goals, including ones by Eddie Spiesz and Tyler Underhill in a span of 2:16 in the third, to tie it at 3-3.

Seeing the momentum shift, Sweet Home coach Dave Gerspach told his team to get Marko the puck as much as possible, which they did, but Dan Martino took a penalty with 1:10 left.

That's when Marko showed why he's the top scorer in the league. Paul Campise pinched on a draw in the Sweet Home end, bounced a pass to Anthony Manzella who slid a pass to Marko on a two-on-one to win the game.

"In our eyes, Ryan's the best player in the league so we got him the puck," said Gerspach. "In the last five minutes, he was all over the place. Wherever the puck went, he was there."

Marko's first point of the day came on another short-handed goal, this one from Dominic Puntillo in the first period. Marko then assisted with Manzella on James Cardinale's power-play goal to put the Panthers ahead, 2-0. Cardinale added a second period goal from Paul Campise and Ryan Gutt.

Marko has 99 career points and leads the Federation with 29 points (10 goals, 19 assists). Including non-league games, he has 30 points.

Teammate Alex Esposito has 86 career points and is second in Federation scoring with 23 points (10 goals, 13 assists) and 27 points (12 goals, 15 assists) overall.

Marko was also brilliant in Sweet Home victories at the Amherst Pepsi Center over Timon, 7-2, on Thursday, and Kenmore East, 5-1, on Saturday.

Against Timon, Marko scored a highlight reel short-handed goal 29 seconds into the second period.

"Ryan tipped the puck past one of their defenders and outraced the other defenseman," said Gerspach. "He went in on net, their goalie came out and he flipped it over him into the net."

He also assisted with Esposito on a Mike Campise first period power-play goal, a Cardinale second period power-play goal and with Mike Campise on a Martino second period goal.

Against Kenmore East, he scored from Martino and assisted with Daryn Cavalier on an Esposito short-handed goal in the first period, helped Esposito on a Martino second period power-play goal and assisted with Manzella on a Cardinale third period power play tally.

Paul Campise also scored in the second against Timon from Martino and Esposito.

"The second period was the best period we've played all year," said Gerspach. "We scored four times but it could have been 10. We hit a number of posts and their goalie made some big saves. We did not let them out of their zone. Our forecheck was working real well."

Mike Campise (Mike Campise) and Ryan Gutt also tallied for the Panthers.

John Garvin scored both Timon goals.

Derek Mohney made 16 saves as Sweet Home outshot Timon, 33-18.

Corey Sykes (Montanez, Mike Campise) also scored for Sweet Home against Kenmoe East who jumped out to a 3-0 first period lead.

Kyle Wagner scored for Kenmore East on the power play.

"Derek played well in net (23 saves) but Ken East is a very good team," said Gerspach. "Up 4-0, we expected them to slow it down but they came out stronger. I give Jeff Orlowski (Ken East coach) credit. They played until the final whistle blew."

Sweet Home had 32 shots.

Mohney made 21 saves against St. Francis.

Williamsville East

East geared up for Sweet Home after shutting out Amherst, 4-0, on Thursday on the Feature Rink.

The Flames (8-1-1) scored three first period goals in a span of 1:30 to set the pace. Chris Fabozzi scored at 8:42 from Kyle Smith. A 1:20 later, Colin Lucey made it 2-0 from Eric Bogart and Mike DeSte- fano. Thirty seconds later, Eric Charlton scored from Anthony Clair.

Charlton scored his second of the game at 13:02 of the second from Jon Toole.

"I thought the kids played very well and limited their chances," said East coach Mike Torrillo. "We controlled the play. In the third, we had a couple power-play chances and hit a few posts."

"Amherst did a sound job defensively and didn't give us a lot of extra chances," he added. "They did a good job in front of the net and made it tough for us to give clear shots."

East had 31 shots on Amherst goalie Sean Smith. Jay Hall made 13 saves for the Flames.

Besides the East game, the Flames play Bishop Timon-St. Jude at 3 p.m. Saturday on the Pepsi Center Feature Rink.

e-mail: pnagy@beenews.com