The Stars (A) team had another successful weekend as they picked up 3 points over the New Hampshire Monarchs with an overtime victory and a tie.
Saturday’s game had the Stars rally from behind to nip the Monarchs in overtime. Mike Montagna's goal at 2:19 in overtime helped the Stars (A) defeat the New Hampshire, 5-4. Syracuse jumped out to a 2-0 lead on first period goals from Rob Morton and John Hero. The Monarchs cut the Stars lead to 2-1 on a goal from Brian Dumoulin at 7:16 of the second period. Less than a minute later the Stars again increased their lead to 3-1 on Adam Graff's first goal of the game. New Hampshire scored with just 21 seconds left in the 2nd period to go into the 2nd intermission only down a goal, 3-2. New Hampshire came out on fire in the third period as they scored two goals from Aaron Kesselman and Pat Doherty in the first 6 minutes to take a 4-3 lead. The Monarchs continued to hold a 4-3 lead and it appeared that newly called up goaltender Brian Billett was going to get his first win but with just 38 seconds left in regulation Graff notched his second goal of the game to force the game in overtime.
Sunday’s game had both teams battled into another overtime game which resulted in a 4-4 tie. Rob Morton's goal at 7:11 gave the Stars an early 1-0 lead. The Monarchs Adam Kaiser tied the score with just twenty-seven seconds left in the first period to go into the intermission, 1-1. Charlie Mullan's goal in the 2nd period gave the Monarchs a 2-1 lead before Chris Cannizzaro tied the game at 2-2 on a power play goal with just over 7 minutes remaining in the 2nd period. In the 3rd both teams had many opportunities to break the tie. Kaiser's second goal of the game at 12:27 gave the Monarchs a 3-2 lead. Then with just 3:48 left in the game the Monarchs increased their lead to 2 goals and appeared to have a comfortable lead. The "Never Say Die Stars" then scored seventeen seconds later on Matt Wilson's goal to cut the deficit to 4-3. Then with 1:39 remaining in the game the Stars were called for roughing. Down a man and down a goal it looked like the Monarchs were going to split the weekend series but with 1:25 Morton's shorthanded goal, his second of the game, tied the game at 4-4 to force the game into overtime.
The Stars (A) will travel to Haverhill, MA to play the Capital District Selects, New York Applecore, and the host Valley Jr. Warriors in the 13th Annual Warrior Classic.
Stars (B) Fall to Pittsburgh
The young Stars (B) team traveled to Pittsburgh this past weekend and fell to the Jr. Penguins twice by scores of 6-2 and 2-0.
The Penguins jumped out to an early lead in Saturday’s game on a goal from Todd Thomas at 5:04 of the game. Nathan Hughes then scored a goal at 12:51 as both teams went into the first intermission tied at 1-1. The second period was all Penguins as they scored early and often with three unanswered goals coming from Jeff Cupelli (:15), Alex DiMassa (9:23), and Nick Persichetti (13:51) to take a commanding 4-1 lead. Billy Kent then scored the Stars final goal of the game late in the period to cut the lead to 4-2. The third period had the Jr. Penguins scoring two more tallies to close out the game, 6-2.
Sunday’s game was a hard fought battle as both teams battled to a scoreless tie for two periods. Then midway in the third Mike White’s goal beat Stars goalie Kollyn Jones to take a 1-0 lead. Then just :35 later Jones was beaten again by Chase Keibler to give the Penguins the 2-0 victory.
The Stars (B) team comes home this weekend to take on the Buffalo Stars.
