The Stars (A) team travelled to Haverhill, MA and participated in the Valley Jr. Warriors 13th Annual Warrior Classic. Friday’s game against the Capital District Selects the Stars took the early lead on Chris Cannizzaro’s goal four minutes into the game. Capital District then took a 2-1 lead on goals from Alex Kaiser and Robbie Donahue late in the second half but with 4:39 left in the game Cannizzaro came through again to knot the score and force the game into overtime. Joe Wilson then scored at 1:53 in overtime to give the Stars the 3-2 victory.
Saturday’s first game had the Stars come up a little short as they fell to the New York Apple Core Selects by a score of 3-2. Syracuse for the second game in a row took the early lead on a goal from Cannizzaro at 12:29 of the first half. Apple Core then tied the game with just forty-two seconds left in the half on Mark DiFruscio’s goal. In the second half Apple Core then scored two goals by Brian Elser and Zak Stone to take a commanding 3-1 lead midway in the second. Nearing the end of the game the Stars pulled their goalie for the added attacker and with just eighteen seconds remaining Rob Morton’s scored but it was not enough for the Stars as they came up a goal short.
In the nightcap the Stars came up with a 3-2 win over the host Valley Jr. Warriors. Syracuse again took the early lead on Morton’s goal. The Jr. Warriors then stormed back with two goals from Nick Marquis in the matter of twenty-eight seconds to take a 2-1 lead. Syracuse then tied the game at 13:12 of the half on Rob Morton’s second goal of the game. The only goal for the second half was by the Stars Josh LaRose to give the Stars the victory over the Jr. Warriors and a record of 2-1 in the Jr. Warriors tournament.
The Stars remain on the road as they travel down to Long Beach, NY to take on Apple Core for a two game series this weekend
Syracuse Stars (B) Rally To OT Tie
The Syracuse Stars (B) team rallied from a 4-0 deficit to earn a 4-4 overtime tie against the Buffalo Stars on Saturday. Buffalo was in total control in the first period on goals from Ryan Jaracz, Danny Potter, and a pair from Garrett Moore to give the Buffalo Stars a commanding 4-0 lead after the first period. Syracuse started their comeback early in the second on a power play goal from Zach O'Mara at 1:09. They cut Buffalo's lead in half about a minute later on James Cathers’ goal. Syracuse then cut the deficit to one with 9:30 left in the period on Eric Geertz's goal as Buffalo took their slim one goal lead into the second intermission. Syracuse continued to pepper shots on Buffalo goalie Colin Branigan who came up with some outstanding saves but with three minutes left O'Mara slipped a shot past Branigan to force the game into overtime.
In Sunday’s game Frank Buttino's hat trick proved to be the difference as the Buffalo Stars downed the Syracuse Stars B team, 5-4. Buffalo got on the board first on Buttino's first goal at 14:33 of the first period. They then increased their lead 44 seconds later on a goal from T. J. Giczkowski. Syracuse cut the lead in half just before the intermission on Jared Lehman's goal. Buffalo then increased their lead to 3-1 early in the second period on Buttino's second goal. Syracuse power play goals from Zach O'Mara and James Cathers midway in the period knotted the game at 3-3 entering the third period. Adrean Copeland's power play goal on a slapshot just in front of Syracuse goalie Jordan Demo gave Buffalo a 4-3 lead with 14:36 remaining in the game. Buffalo then got an insurance goal from Buttino, his third, midway in the period giving them a 5-3 lead. Cathers’ goal, his second of the game, with just over a minute left in the game closed out the scoring.
The Syracuse Stars (B) team will host the New York Apple Core Jr. B team this weekend at the Onondaga Nation Arena.
