Williamsville North rebounds with victory over Lockport

Williamsville North responded from a 9-6 loss at Clarence on Friday, May 4 with an 8-6 home victory over Grand Island on Saturday, May 5.

The Grand Island game was North's senior day and the seniors were asked to set the tempo early.

Senior Ryan Geary, who has been out for over two weeks with a few injuries battled at the faceoff X and when the game was on the line, became a machine, said North coach Matt Smart.

Seniors also stepped up on offense including Evan Bryant (three goals, two assists), Brent Rickan (three goals), Mike Jaszka and Matt Dindurski (goal, assist) and Pat Mulvihill (assist). Rob Wilcox, another senior, scooped up three ground balls. Senior Brad Adkins picked up five ground balls and played very strong defense.

"We made a few mistakes, adjusted well and dealt with all adversity," said Smart. "We earned the win and it was a great way for the seniors to end their home field regular season. They must now lead us on the road and take control of the remainder of the season."

Junior goalie Pat Stasio made 11 saves.

Clarence jumped out to a 6-1 halftime lead and never looked back. Looking at the stats, the game was even (shots tied at 37-37 and North with more ground balls, 40-35), but North's lack of execution did in the Spartans.

"Clarence did a lot of things right and we did a lot of things wrong," said Smart. "They deserved the win…Pat Mulvihill put it all into perspective for me after a quiet bus ride home saying 'It was just a bad day'."

Bryant led North with two goals and two assists. Mulvihill and Joe Greenwald had a goal and assist. Nic Stalker and Dindurski also scored a goal. Wilcox grabbed six ground balls. Stasio made 15 saves.

North opened the week with a 18-0 win over North Tonawanda on Tuesday, May 1. The Spartans outshot NT, 35-6, and out ground balled them 37-17.

Fourteen Spartans scored at least one point, led by Bryant's two goals and four assists. Mulvihill (three assists), Brent Rickan (three goals). Dindurski and Kurtis Knoebel (goal, two assists each), Jason Garafalo and Geary (two goals each), Stalker, Jaszka, Nick Hereth and Grant Rickan (goal, assist each), and Rob Pekarski, Jon Benamoz and Craig Pettit (goal each) also tallied points for North. Garafalo, Dindurski and Geary each scooped up four ground balls.

"We controlled every aspect of the game," said Smart. "We moved the ball very well, and the guys got open and made the right looks. Our defense played aggressive and enabled our offense to control the game."

North played Lockport on Monday, May 7 but results were unavailable before The Bee went to press. The Spartans play at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, May 9 at Orchard Park and at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, May 11 at Williamsville South. North lost by four goals to OP in last year's Section VI Class A semifinal.