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North's run ends in large school Fed final
St. Joe's defeated Williamsville North, 5-1, for the Section VI Western New York Varsity Hockey Federation large school championship on Sunday before a sold-out crowd at Buffalo State Ice Arena. The loss ends North's seven-year run qualifying for the Division I New York State playoffs. In that time, the Spartans won three Division I state titles in six finals appearances. They also won four Federation titles. North needed to beat St. Joe's to win the public large school berth for the Division I state playoffs. Lancaster (18-6-2) finished a point ahead of North (17-7-2) during the regular season and will represent Section VI as the large school representative at the state quarterfinals on Saturday in Newburgh. A new rule was instituted this year where Federation large and small school champions would be crowned. If a public school team won, they would go to states. "I knew what we were up against when we didn't win the regular season portion," said North coach Bob Rosen. "I was proud of the kids to get to this stage (Federation final). I never thought with this group of kids that we would get here." St. Joe's, who beat North for the Federation title last year, scored three times in the first period, including two goals in a span of 19 seconds, to take a 3-1 lead. James Farrell put in a rebound off a shot from Jeff Amico with 3:16 remaining. Cole Schneider assisted. Nineteen seconds later, Amico stuffed in a rebound of a Schneider shot under the pads of North goalie Branden Komm. Both goals came on North turnovers in their own zone. "We had a couple of lapses in the first period where we had a couple of bad giveaways that created turnovers and it ended up in the back of the net," said Rosen. "Our team has been a team of speed, quickness and the ability to score," added St. Joe's coach Pete Schneider. "That was a key all year. I think the experience of being here last year made us not get fazed by anything. We knew North would come hard and that we could respond to it." The Marauders made it 4-1 early in the second when after another North turnover, Pat Ruggiero slid a behind-the-back pass to Anthony Caruso, who stuffed the puck into the wide open net. Farrell scored his second of the game from Schneider with an empty-net goal with 1:09 remaining in the third. St. Joe's struck first in the game when Evan Pizzuto scored from Marc Benzino. North sophomore forward Joe Johnson, from junior Nick Fronczak and senior Kyle Agius, put home a rebound to tie the game at 1-1. Johnson's goal was the only tally that got past Marauder goalie Mark Goulding. The senior made 27 saves to earn game MVP honors. "To go out winning as a senior and to have the best team in the league was nice," said Goulding. St. Joe's (22-4-4) plays Iona Prep for the state Catholic School championship on Saturday at the Ice Hutch in Mt. Vernon. North beat the team who is going to the public school states, Lancaster, 3-2, in the semifinals on Thursday on the Amherst Pepsi Center Feature Rink. Lancaster outshot North, 27-17, but the Spartans scored timely goals. Freshman Mark Maraschiello tied the game at 1-1 at 3:23 of the second off a good forecheck from Matt Battista and Phil VanDette. Agius scored 30 seconds later from Grant Rickan and Chris Marsack. Lancaster's Joe Karl tied the score at 2-2 from Nick Berst 1:22 into the third. VanDette scored the game-winner at 6:22. Rosen said VanDette won the draw to James Nowicki who moved it back to Rickan, who took a slap shot and VanDette tipped the puck into the top corner. North killed off a late penalty to earn the win. Komm made 25 saves, including a great save with his left pad, said Rosen. North beat Lancaster, 4-1, and lost, 3-0, during the regular season. |
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