Hockey: Indians split two in weekend action

Written by J.B. Cozens
Thursday, 26 January 2012 10:16

The John Jay hockey team suffered its second frustrating one-goal loss to Mahopac this season, as Mahopac rallied in the third period for a 4-3 win before a large crowd last Friday night at Brewster Ice Arena.

John Jay took a 2-1 lead into the final period, and led 3-2 midway through the period when Mahopac scored two goals in the final seven minutes — including the game winner with 46 seconds left.

In their earlier meeting back in November, Mahopac rallied from a three-goal deficit with eight minutes left for a 7-6 win.

“We had a great start and settled in to playoff-style hockey for two periods. Then we self-destructed in the third,” said coach Alex Smith, whose team played shorthanded for a good deal of the third period. “No team can weather being man-down for half the period, especially against Mahopac. We didn’t adjust to the way the third period was officiated and that was our downfall. If we don’t play with more discipline, we will burn out our guys killing penalties.”

John Jay bounced back on Sunday with a 7-1 win over JFK/Putnam Valley, improving to 10-4.

On Friday night, goals by Shawn Smith and Frazier Bostwick gave John Jay a 2-1 lead after one period, as the Indians had a 10-4 edge in shots on goal.

Mahopac outshot John Jay 13-4 in the second period, but Matt Lanza stood tall in goal for the Indians, whose lead remained 2-1 after two.

Mahopac tied things up in the first minute of the third period on a power-play goal, but John Jay answered a minute later when Smith scored unassisted for a power-play goal.

With the teams skating four-on-four due to penalties (seven were called in the period), Mahopac tied the game again on a semi-breakaway. The game winner came in the final minute off another power play.

“We still have regular season games to right the ship,” said Smith. “We have a great bunch of guys in that locker room and I’m optimistic we will get past this setback.”

Mahopac (12-4) finished with a 29-25 edge in shots on goal. Lanza had 25 saves for John Jay.

Smith had two goals for the Indians and Bostwick had a goal and assist. Thomas Blaney also had an assist.

In Sunday’s 7-1 over JFK/Putnam Valley, also in Brewster, the Indians had a whopping 53-9 shots-on-goal advantage. Jack Grimm had two goals and an assist, with other goals scored by Smith, Blaney, Bostwick, Dan Killea and Mark Leprine.

Bostwick and Leprine each had two assists, with other assists by Killea, Anthony Scapperotti and J.J. Morowitz

Patrick White had eight saves in goal for John Jay.

JFK/Putnam Valley dropped to 1-14 with the loss.