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2/17/07-Hockey
St. Mary's and Rice battle to tie
By Jeff Stearns
ORCHARD LAKE--The Eaglets and Warriors ended forty-five minutes of physical, close-checking hockey deadlocked at 3-3 in the Catholic League Championships Division 1 runner-up game on Saturday afternoon at Orchard Lake St. Mary's Athletic Complex Ice Arena.
Because the game was not for the championship, Catholic League rules do not call for any overtime period when teams are tied at the end of regulation.
St. Mary's led after the first period, 2-0, on goals by Billy Balent and Steve Tallman. Balent's goal came at 8:04 after goalie Joe Savona directed an errant Warrior shot to Jon Falvo, who then passed to a streaking Balent, who put the puck past Warrior goalie Will Danko. Less than 30 seconds later, Steve Tallman did it again, with assists from Kasper Bryniczka and Tony Aukskalnis. The Warriors couldn't find the net, even though they had two power plays and a 5-3 for over a minute. The shots were even 8-8 for the period.
St. Mary's started the second period on a penalty kill, and did so successfully to keep the Warriors at bay. However, at 10:16, Warrior captain Nick Tinetti put a rebounded shot by Brandon Contratto past Eaglet goalie Joe Savona to narrow the gap to one. Then with Billy Balent in the penalty box, the Warriors tied the game on the power play when Warrior John Ebbing put another rebounded shot past Savona. The Eaglets pressured Warrior goalie on two late power plays, but couldn't find the net, outshooting Brother Rice for the period 8-7.
St. Mary's came out of the locker room after the second intermission on fire, and peppered goalie Danko from the start. On a 3-on-1, Tony Aukskalnis put the puck on Kasper Bryniczka's stick, and the puck ended up in the back of the net at 13:36. The Eaglets continued to dominate the Warriors, but will no more goals. With Warrior Greg Pateryn in the penalty box, the Warriors tied the game when Brett Kroll broke away and scored short-handed with 8:38 left in the game. The Eaglets had a golden opportunity to retake the lead when they went on a 5-on-3 power play at 8:03, but Warrior goalie Danko and the Warrior defense stopped all shots. Eaglet Charlie Semaan thought he scored the go-ahead goal but the referees ruled that he had knocked the puck in with a high stick. The Eaglets had to kill a late penalty and the teams finished the period even strength in the Warrior defensive zone. For the period, St. Mary's outshot Brother Rice 15-4, and 31-19 for the game.
At the game's conclusion, Eaglets Mac Watts and Joe Savona were named All-Catholic, Brandon Kozlowski and Jon Falvo All-League, and Tony Aukskalnis was All-Academic.
The Eaglets enter Pre-Regional play starting Monday, February 26, 2007.
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