WESTFIELD – Five different players scored one goal apiece, including two goals in the final 65 seconds to rally Taconic to a 5-5 tie with St. Mary in a high school boys’ ice hockey game Friday afternoon at Amelia Park Arena.
St. Mary jumped on top of Taconic from the outset when Shaun Gezotis went top shelf for the Saints in the opening minutes of the game. Mason Alfonso scored the equalizer less than a minute later. The two teams went scoreless for the remainder of the period.
St. Mary’s Shaun Gezotis goes top shelf for the first score of the game against Taconic Friday afternoon at Amelia Park Arena. (Photo by Bill Deren)
After a brief scoring drought, the floodgates opened for both teams. St. Mary owned the second period; Taconic took charge late.
Gezotis and Val Reopel set up Kenny Bonney for a go-ahead goal 29 seconds into the middle frame. Less than two minutes later, Aaron Blanchard scored to make it a two-goal lead. Pete Chrisanthopoulos put St. Mary out front, 4-1. Gezotis assisted. Taconic pulled within two a short time later.
In the third period, both teams exchanged goals with John Pitoniak scoring with 5:16 remaining to make it a 5-3 game.
St. Mary appeared to be headed toward its second win of the season in just three tries, but Taconic recorded two goals in the final 65 seconds to stun the Saints.
Taconic pulled within one with 1:05 left in regulation, and Ryan LaPierre scored the game-tying goal with just one tick on the clock.
St. Mary goalie Matt Brady finished with 36 saves. Taconic keeper Tony Spagnuolo collected 26.
BOYS’ BASKETBALL
McCann clips Gators
McCann Tech 53, Gateway 46
Brett Turban scored 17 points to lead Gateway, and Shane Mastello had 14 in a close contest.
GIRLS’ BASKETBALL
Red Raiders top Saints
Commerce 50, St. Mary 13
Breanna Marchena (22 points) and Gerliz Hernadez (17) combined for 39 of Commerce’s 50 points en route to victory. Madie Donais led St. Mary with seven at Westfield Middle School North.
JV GIRLS’ BASKETBALL
Southwick 28, Pioneer Valley 5
Southwick’s McKinley White scored a game-high 15 points, Sam Perusse added nine, and Morgan Grilli recorded her first-ever high school points with a 3-pointer.
