By Dylan Butler
Holy Cross hadn't played since Jan. 13 and Mitchell worried that his team would come out flat. He was right and they did, but the Knights woke up just in time to squeak out a 2-2 tie last Thursday at Parkwood Rink in Great Neck.Anthony Pagano scored the game-tying goal with 4:54 left in the third period for Holy Cross, which remained in first place in the CHSHL 'B' division. It was the only one of the 18 shots Holy Cross (9-1-1) took in the third period that got past St. Francis Prep goalie Greg Siroky, who was credited with 47 saves.”I expected a lull but not sluggish, bad play,” Mitchell said. “It took us until the last two to three minutes of the second period to get it back.”Last-place St. Francis Prep (2-7-2), which lost 5-0 the first meeting between the two Francis Lewis Boulevard rivals, jumped ahead 1-0 just 90 seconds into the game on an unassisted goal by Matt McCloskey.Reny Mazzorra tied the game for the Knights 3:14 into the second period, on assists from Chris Anastasio and Chris Will.Peter Loeb put St. Francis Prep back in front, 2-1 on a goal assisted by Marc Sausa and Maxx Kleiner 1:13 into the third period. It was the Terriers lone shot on goal in the third period.”We have a very young team and this was definitely a great experience for the young guys,” St. Francis Prep assistant coach Steve Cameron said. “We feel a lot more confident but we also felt we should have won the game.”The rivalry boiled over at the end of the third period when both teams brawled in the corner just as the final buzzer sounded. Mazzorra and Frank Leonardo from Holy Cross and Sausa, Siroky and Sal Pinto from St. Francis Prep received roughing double minors and 10-minute misconducts.It sets the stage for the third and final meeting Thursday at Parkwood.”They're very psyched,” Cameron said of the St. Francis Prep players. “At practice (Monday) you could tell they're pretty excited. They're definitely ready.”When asked if the bad blood would carry over to Thursday's game, Mitchell, who is also the league commissioner, said, “I hope not.”McClancy 5, St. Peter's 2. Stephen Ferguson scored two goals and Ryan Ferguson, Anthony Venneitti and Keith Morrice added goals for McClancy (4-7 CHSHL 'B') last Thursday at Murray Rink in Yonkers. Christian Santi and Bryan Weigold scored for St. Peter's (5-4-2).Reach Sports Editor Dylan Butler by e-mail at TimesLedger@aol.com or call 718-229-0300, Ext. 143.
