Colgate-bound Erik Pfiffner and Syracuse-bound JoJo Marasco.
(Photo by Jim Stout/MaxPreps.com)
There was something in the mist tonight at Walter Panas High School.
With a thick white haze engulfing the field, tonight’s game between Somers and host Lakeland/Panas had a unique feel to it.
It’s a feeling Somers hopes to experience once again real soon.
The Tuskers rallied for a 10-9 overtime win after trailing 9-7 late in the fourth quarter.
• For a rundown of Thursday’s scores and highlights, click here.
• For video highlights of Somers vs. Lakeland/Panas, click here.
The win was especially sweet for Somers for a variety of reasons.
First, a week earlier to the day earlier, the Tuskers squandered a lead in losing to Rye 9-8 in overtime.
Second, it marked first-year Somers coach Lew Janavey’s first coaching appearance against the Rebels, where he served as an assistant from 1990 to 2004, before being relieved of his duties.
Finally, it was a physical, hard-hitting and at times chippy game in which emotions boiled over at times.
Somers won it 40 seconds into overtime when JoJo Marasco blasted home a low shot into the left corner of the net.
“Colin (Tullgren) put it there for me,” Marasco said. “Then after I took that first slide, and I just tried to put it in low.”
Trailing 9-7 late in the game, the Tuskers rallied to force overtime on goals by Dylan Haas (with 2:25 left in regulation) and Marasco (with 2:06 left), who finished with three goals and two assists.
Haas, Rob Lombardo and Greg Petre each had two goals for the Tuskers. Cole Partenza had the other goal for Somers. Chris Longo made 13 saves.
“Certain guys played selfishly down the stretch and we made some mental mistakes you just can’t make,” said Lakeland/Panas coach Jim Lindsay, who expressed his sentiments to his team in a 10-minute post-game huddle. “We gave the game away. That drives me nuts.”
Moments before Somers’ comeback, a heated exchange occurred between Marasco and Lakeland/Panas’ Owen Rice, in which Marasco fell to the ground in apparent pain after taking a slash to the stomach before the ball was dropped. The two then exchanged words while serving their ensuing penalties. Moments later, a near melee between the teams at midfield ensued. Order was restored, but emotions were at a fever pitch. (One player was called for five penalties during the course of the game.)
“There was some chippy play,” Janavey said. “We’re a physical team and they weren’t backing down.”
But Lindsay said the Rebels weren’t able to counter the Tuskers’ physical style.
“They outgroundballed us,” Lindsay said. “I don’t think we were able to match their physicality. We’re just not as physical as much as we may want to change that habit.”
Somers played without faceoff specialist Matt Deiana, who is out with a foot injury. In his place, junior Erik Pfiffner took the majority of the faceoffs and fared well against Lakeland/Panas faceoff standout John Hitmann, especially in the second half. He won the faceoffs that set up the tying and winning scores.
“That was my whole focus going into the game,” the Colgate-bound Pfiffner said. “I knew how important it was going to be and I was really focused on it.”
Will Fallo had two goals and an assist for the Rebels. Jack Doherty and Shawn Honovich also scored twice. Steven Hoch made 16 saves.
Reach Joe Lombardi at joe@laxlessons.com.
Rye attackman Rob Santangelo will be
Rye defenseman Donald Keough
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