Saint Andrew’s Comes all the way back to Earn Tie with Dexter

Saint Andrew’s Comes all the way back to Earn Tie with Dexter

Brookline, MA: Neutral Zone made the trip to Brookline to catch the preseason game between St. Andrew’s College (SAC) and Dexter. The game did not disappoint and ended in a 5-5 tie after three 20-minute frames and a five- minute overtime. Dexter raced out to a 4-0 first period lead, before St. Andrew’s came all the way back in the second period. The two teams traded goals in the third before playing a scoreless overtime that included a penalty shot.

Dexter took advantage of a sluggish SAC squad that was playing their fourth game in three days and jumped out to a 4-0 lead on goals by four different players. Doug Grimes (Brookline, MA) tipped a shot from Patrick Morrissey (Canton, MA) in the high slot for the early lead. Dexter doubled the advantage as Morrissey snuck a slapshot from the point through Lassi Lehtis (Espoo, Finland) pads. Before the end of the period, John McElaney (Walpole, MA) would score a shorthanded goal by batting in a rebound off a 3-2 rush, and John Fusco (Westwood, MA – Harvard University) would take a pass from his brother, Matt Fusco (Westwood, MA) and  bury it under the bar.

SAC found their legs in the second and scored four straight goals. Kienan Draper (Bloomfield Hills, MI – Miami University (OH)) wheeled off the half-wall before snapping the puck past 2004 Dylan Silverstein (Woburn, MA). A few minutes later, Luke Vardy (Hammonds Plains, NS, Canada) scored on a big shot from the point. Before the period was out, SAC would score two more times, as Devlin O’Brien (Toronto, ON – Merrimack) would finish a net-mouth scramble after a Dexter give-a-way and Jack Bar (Newmarket, ON – Harvard University) hammered one home from the point through a screen.

The third was more back-and-forth hockey with each team getting several quality chances. Dexter broke the tie when Connor Sutherland (West Roxbury, MA) walked out of the corner and snapped one home from a bad angle. The lead was short lived however, as SAC tied the game with three minutes to go as Cole Galata (Newmarket, ON) used a wrap-a-round to stuff the puck home.  Neither team would score in 3-on-3 overtime. With roughly 30 seconds to go,  Matt Copponi (Mansfield, MA) was tripped on a break-a-away and given a penalty shot. He was stopped and the game would end 5-5.

Three Stars:

First Star: John McElaney (Dexter)

Second Star: Patrick Morrissey (Dexter)

Third Star: Frankie Carogioiello (SAC)

NZ Notes: Both teams are deep rosters and will be tough to beat in their respective leagues. SAC has been playing for a few months together and have more chemistry at this point in the season. Dexter looked a little fresher as they weren’t playing their fourth game of the weekend (SAC played in the Belmont Hill Jamboree). From a quick look at schedules, it doesn’t look like the two teams meet again this season.

For the home team, Dexter again looks to have a skilled and deep roster. Up front, Doug Grimes (Brookline, MA) was all over the ice today. He is a long body that has a fluid stride. He gets up to speed quickly and pushes the pace to the perimeter of the rink. McElaney did all the little things right. He was fast on the forecheck and took good angles pressuring the puck. He blocked shots and played positionally well in his own end. He also created off the rush and drove the net hard.

On defense, Dexter was missing Mike Adamson (Quincy, MA – Umass Amherst) but was led by John Fusco and Patrick Morrissey. Both are veterans on the back-end and are counted on to play big minutes in all situations. Both push the pace up-the-ice and look to create through the neutral zone. Both are also effective jumping into the play backdoor in the offensive zone.

For the visiting team, Frankie Carogioiello (Woodbridge, ON – Miami University (OH)) was a threat to score each time he touched the puck. He is shifty and quick and can easily break down defenders in transition. Justin Ertel (Kitchener, ON – Cornell) was also a factor each time out on the ice. He is a bigger body and uses his size to drive the puck wide and compete on the walls.

On defense, Bar plays in all situations and is smooth with the puck on his stick. He kept good gaps and transitioned defense to offense seamlessly. Vardy also had a nice game and made several plays to exit his zone. He sees the ice well and doesn’t panic under pressure. He snaps passes through the middle of the ice and has a heavy shot from the point.

Photo Credit: Dan Hickling/Hickling Images