By Dylan Butler
Tuesday afternoon at Iceland in New Hyde Park, the Royals implemented that gameplan to its fullest and, coupled with lackluster play by Molloy, defeated the Stanners, 9-5.
“We came out really well,” Boller said. “We forechecked hard. We played within the system. When you play within the system, you might not win every game, but you will at least be in every game.”
After falling to Kellenberg by scores of 11-3 and 13-0, Christ the King (3-2-1 CHSHL A) has not lost since Dec. 7, going 2-0-1 in that span.
“We scheduled a lot of exhibition games in between our leagues games and we've built on them,” Boller said.
After scoring 10 goals against St. Joseph by the Sea last Thursday, the high-flying Royals jumped all over Molloy (3-4 CHSHL A) for five first period goals.
With the game tied at 1, Patrick Williams rebounded a deflected shot and beat Stanner goaltender Mike Koenig low from between the circles with 9:32 left. Sal Croce's one-timer 27 seconds later gave the Royals a 3-1 lead.
With 6:59 left in the first, Anthony Rigosi dished to Chris Keegan who was open in front. Koenig made the save, but Keegan put the rebound in on the backhand to give Christ the King a three-goal lead and forced Stanner head coach Richie Rodgers to call time-out and pull Koenig for Adrian Podpirka.
“We got off to a rocky start and that happens,” Rodgers said. “Mike is a good goalie, but I think he just tried too hard. We had to pull him, it's part of the game.”
Croce added his second of the period when he used a Molloy defender as a screen and beat Podpirka low from the right face-off circle to put the Royals ahead, 5-1 with 35.9 seconds left in the period.
“This was more about bragging rights,” Croce said. “We took the pace away from them and got the win.”
After a scoreless second period dominated by Christ the King, the Royals went ahead 6-1 20 seconds into the third on Greg Cutrone's rebound. The Stanners finally woke up and, led by John DiGregorio who netted a hat trick, cut the Royals' lead to 6-4. But back-to-back goals by Cutrone and Bobby Glade – the final a short-handed tally into an open net – put CK ahead for good, 8-4 with 4:07 left.
“At least we didn't go down easily,” Rodgers said. “They showed some fire that I haven't seen the last couple of games. We have to find out why the fuse is so long, why it takes so long to get going.”
Monsignor McClancy 6, Bishop Ford 5. Senior John Mascetti led the way for the Crusaders with five goals and an assist in the win Friday night at Abe Stark Arena in Coney Island. Freshman Joe Sadowski had the other McClancy goal and added an assist.
The Crusaders (4-4 CHSHL B) return to the ice Tuesday against St. Raymond's at Iceland in New Hyde Park. Face-off is at 3:15 p.m.
Christ the King 10, St. Joseph by the Sea 3. Joey Kemerson, Croce and Mike Brugess each scored two goals to lead the Royals last Thursday at Murray Rink in Yonkers. Mike Rizzo, Mike Drexel, Cutrone and Glade added one goal apiece in the rout.
The Royals face Stepinac Thursday at Murray Rink at 8:45 p.m. and take on St. Edmund Saturday night at Abe Stark Arena. Face-off is slated for 9:30 p.m.
