Game 2 Shutout Was Icing On The Cake
Preserving their perfect season record, the Empire States Legends inline hockey team bested their rivals, the Long Island 495ers, in a doubleheader played on Long Island Saturday, Jan. 4.
The Legends took it to overtime in Game 1, winning 4-3 before sweeping the 495ers 3-0 in game two. The team’s record is now 4-0 playing away from home and 6-0 for the season.
Goalie Keith Johnson also registered his second shutout game for the year.
The Legends started strong in Game 1, with Vinny Pontrello’s opening goal (assisted by minor league call-up Matt Johnson) at 2:22 in the first. The Legends put one more in the net (Joseph Mazzie from James Tamburino at 5:51) before the 495ers could answer.
And how they answered. The 495ers’ Johnathan Mosenson, Jesse Petito and Mike Keating all scored within about three minutes, closing the first period up one goal, 3-2.
Period 2 was tense for the Legends, who could not score until 14:27. The goal came from Mazzie, assisted by Pontrello and Tamburino.
At 3-3, the game headed into overtime, but with just 17 seconds played, Matthew Miano put one in the net for the win.
The Legends managed to stay out of the box in Game 1, registering one two-minute penalty for highsticking- well below their season average of seven penalty minutes per game.
The first game proved to be a warm-up for the Legends, who scored three in Game 2 without allowing a single 495er goal. Thanks to strong defense from the Legends, the Long Island team only took 14 shots, and Johnson saved every one.
Early in the first period, the Legends capitalized off power plays with goals from Michael Bochichio (5:35) and Mazzie (8:28). Both were assisted by defenseman Jeffery Kotcher.
Shortly into the second period, forward Frank Florio sealed the deal with a goal assisted by Michael Rotola. The game ended 3-0.
The Legends stayed under their penalty average again, tallying just two minutes in the box versus the 495ers’ eight minutes.
