BHBS takes huge tilt with Bethlehem

The BHBS hockey team knew that Saturday’s home meeting with Bethlehem was a must-win if they wanted a chance at home ice in sectionals. It was a 2-point game, and they were able to earn those two points  with a hard-fought 3-1 victory over the Eagles.

Dom Monterroso scored his 4th goal in 2 games, and Mark Stocker turned away 25 shots to seal the win.

The opening period was well-played defensively, and the shots were 8-6 in favor of the Spartans. The closest either team came to a goal was when Bethehem’s Hayes Meredith was awarded a penalty shot after being tripped while driving to the net. Mark Stocker was able to stop it, and that woke up the BHBS crowd big time. No goals were scored in the first.

The second period had some more action. With Bethlehem on a powerplay, Gianni Pleminik skated through to the offensive zone and put a wrister on net, which was stopped by Eagkes goalie Alex Breiner, but the rebound was easily put home by Alec Lind to make it 1-0 BHBS. It was the 4th shorthanded goal of the season for the Spartans, and Lind’s second. But the Eagles had an answer, and just 26 seconds later, Connor Carroll found the back of the net to tie the game at 1. BHBS didn’t lose track of focus, however, and with 2:42 remaining, Nick Koszelak’s wrister gave the Spartans a 2-1 lead. That would hold as the score after 2.

BHBS wanted to build on the lead they held, and they were able to do so when Dom Monterroso flipped a backhander past Breiner. It was his 4th goal in 2 games this weekend, and gave the Spartans a huge 3-1 lead. They would buckle down defensively for the rest of the game, and held on for the win. The Spartans improve to 13-4-1 (8-3-1) and will next face off at home vs Shaker/Colonie on Friday. Bethlehem drops to 13-6-0 (11-2-0) and will next face off against CBA at home on Wednesday.

GOALS:

1st Period:

NO SCORING

2nd Period:

(6:16) BHBS- Alec Lind (18) ASST: Gianni Pleminik (7)

(5:50) BETH- Connor Carroll (4) ASST: Hayes Meredith (3), Kellen Hagen (9)

(2:42) BHBS- Nick Koszelak (5) ASST: Tino Benamati (17), Alec Lind (18)

3rd Period:

(13:58) BHBS- Dom Monterroso (6) ASST: Gianni Pleminik (8)