OP hands North hockey first Federation loss
by PATRICK J. NAGY Reporter

Branden Komm makes a stop for Williamsville North during the Spartans' 2-1 win over Kenmore West last Saturday at the Amherst Pepsi Center Feature Rink.

Williamsville North had gone unbeaten this season in the Section VI Western New York Varsity Hockey Federation but that all changed last Thursday on the Amherst Pepsi Center Feature Rink.

The Spartans (11-3, 7-1) dropped a 3-2 decision to Orchard Park.

"I think the game was a case of us not finishing, not working hard enough and getting outplayed," said North coach Bob Rosen.

The best example of Orchard Park outplaying North came late in the first period. Spartans senior forward Steve Pizzuto had just scored from junior forward Nick Angelo with 32 seconds remaining to tie the score at 1-1. Eleven seconds later, OP freshman forward Max Murray put the Quakers ahead, 2-1. Rosen said his team won the faceoff but turned the puck over at its own blue line, Orchard Park crashed the net, North senior goalie Branden Komm made the first save but Murray, trailing, put in the rebound.

"When we watched the tape on Friday, there wasn't one major mistake on that goal but seven or eight little mistakes," said Rosen. "We always say that if you don't do the little things in a game, it will cost us and this was a perfect example. If any of those mistakes are not made, chances are it's not a goal."

The Spartans tied the score at 2-2 at 8:12 of the second on the power play after Angelo scored from Marc Kadish and Nick Froncak.

Sophomore forward Chris Streczywilk earned the game winner for OP at 5:14 of the second.

North outshot Orchard Park, 17-4, in the third period but could not get a shot past senior goalie Mike Murray. North outshot the Quakers, 34-18, overall.

"Sometimes you look at statistics and they're misleading," said Rosen. "Yes we outshot them but we didn't play with enough intensity and desire to win a hockey game."

North responded from the OP loss with a 2-1 victory over Kenmore West last Saturday on the Feature Rink.

The Spartans fell behind first as Kenmore West junior defender Christian Panepinto scored on a shot from the point at 10:46 of the first period.

Angelo tied the score at 9:46 of the second from senior forward Josh Liddle. Rosen said Angelo caused a turnover, Liddle picked up the puck and the two skated in on the Kenmore West goalie on a two on none.

Angelo recorded the game winner at 14:15 of the third on the power play from Liddle and Fronczak.

"We were struggling on the power play up to that point," said Rosen. "Our defenseman threw some poor passes that should have led to turnovers. Somehow the puck ended up in their end and got to Josh who threw it to Nick Fronczak who took a shot and Angelo was there on the backdoor to tip it in."

Rosen felt his team controlled play towards the end of the game and battled for most of the loose pucks.

"I was happy with how we found a way to win," Rosen added. "We talked about being aware of the situation you're in and with seven minutes to go, the kids were saying to each other on the bench to keep the puck in deep and make sure everything goes forward, all of the little things you'd like to hear a hockey team say."

North outshot Kenmore West, 30-23. It was the third time North has won after losing a game this season.

North will look to make it two straight wins against arguably the best team in the Federation, St. Joe's, at 7 p.m. on Thursday on the Feature Rink. St. Joe's beat North, 5-2, for the Federation title last year. The Marauders have only one Fed loss (7-1).

"We're certainly going in as the underdog," said Rosen. "They're the most talented team in the league. We're going to have to limit their offensive opportunities."