Defensively sound, Molloy rolls to victory

Mike Pasterczyk capped the first period for Archbishop Stepinac with a nifty move around three Molloy defensemen, beating goalie Kevin Koziol with a backhander to the top shelf.
It would be the last time the Stanners' back line would be beaten, however, or Koziol would be left alone on an island.
Molloy got four unanswered goals from four different players - Charles Gotard, Paul DiNublia, Mike Scotko and Gavin Grogan - in rolling to a 5-2 win in Mount Vernon Thursday night, although it was the play of their blueliners and Koziol, in the final period in particular, that made the difference, blanking the Crusaders over the final two periods.
&#8220It's important our defense really plays solid and doesn't allow anything,” DiNublia said, &#8220because it allows the offense to really get going. Everything starts in the back. It starts with the goalie. Our goaltender came up big in the end when we really needed it. The biggest thing tonight is we all played together as a team and worked well as a unit.”
&#8220We covered for each other; if we got caught, somebody stepped up,” Molloy Coach Jim Sheldon said. &#8220It was a great team effort.”
Gotard tied the game at two early in the second period on a breakaway, Scotko gave the Stanners (4-3) the lead for good, beating Stepianc goalie Vincent Martirano with a wrist shot from the left circle, and Grogan took advantage of a Stepinac giveaway in front of the net, jamming home a loose puck past Martirano.
Limiting rebounds, Koziol kept Stepinac (2-2) scoreless the rest of the way. He made a great kick save of a Michael Delbello slap shot, and smothered all other opportunities.
&#8220He came up big when he really needed to at the end,” Sheldon said.
In first place in the CHSHL ‘A' South, the Stanners are eyeing a return trip to the finals. After losing there a season ago to Fordham Prep, they are focused on a return trip.
&#8220We definitely want another shot at it,” DiNublia said, &#8220and hopefully this time it will be a different result.”