Hot Goaltending Can't Save SJB, Lose to Cornwall 4-2

Despite pressing for the equalizer the entire third period, fell to Cornwall of the Hudson Valley high school league Sunday afternoon, 4-2.

The game was their second of two matchups with Hudson Valley league opponents. The Cougars fell 1-0 to FDR High School on November 20.

Early in the third period, with his team trailing 3-2, SJB (0-16-1-1) coach Joe Fonteboa switched to a significantly more aggressive style of play in the offensive zone, which led to a number of scoring opportunities that Cornwall goaltender Brandon Ryan was able to steer away.

"We were trying to change the flow of the game a little bit," he said. "[We were] only having one defenseman sit back and having our guys pinch to be more offensive-minded. When you’re down like that you want to try and generate anything you can for the team."

While the Cougars were generating more offense, they were also surrendering a number of odd-man opportunities that forced Anthony Chille to keep his team in the game. Chille stopped 31 of the 35 shots he faced.

"We’re going to miss him next year," said Fonteboa of his senior goaltender. "He’s a real good goalie. He stays in it the minute that puck is dropped to the minute of the handshake. He’s in it and stays focused the whole time. He kept us strong in the defensive zone."

Matt O'Shaughnessy staked the Cougars to an early 1-0 lead nearly midway through the first period. O'Shaugnessy curled off the boards and beat Ryan along the ice at 6:22.

After shaking off a thunderous hit by Rob Palomba, Dragons (3-6-2) defenseman Sean Resto fired a shot from the blue line that was deflected off a defenseman's stick high over Chille's right shoulder to tie the game at 8:16.

The teams traded chances and penalties with both goaltenders standing tall until Cornwall's Mike Solazzo broke the tie at 7:40 of the second period. Solazzo carried the puck from his own end, and split two Cougars defenders before beating Chille five-hole.

St. John's was unable to cash in on a five-minute power play in the second period, squandering a golden opportunity to tie the game at two.

"The unfortunate part about that five minutes was that we got a two-minute minor," Fonteboa said.  "We took two minutes off our clock right there, we had a couple good shots. We rang one pipe. You know, sometimes the puck doesn’t bounce our way."

Just before the second period ended, the teams each generated an outstanding solo effort that resulted in a goal. First, Brandon Tirelli knotted the sides with a rush down the right side of the ice, beating Ryan to the short side at 13:53.

Just as the teams looked to head into the third period deadlocked, Dragons forward John Footy went on a rush of his own, and managed to score on Chille as he was being hooked down to the ice with six seconds to play in the period.

Footy set up the Dragons' next goal, giving a pass to Greenwald, who found himself all alone to Chille's left. His shot squeezed under the netminder's arm and in.