Pearl River Hockey Drops Opener against Greeley

Pearl River jumped out to a two goal lead early in the Pirates' season-opening game Friday against Horace Greeley at Sport-O-Rama in Monsey.

Horace Greeley erased that deficit with three goals in the first 3:28 of the second period on the way to a 7-5 victory over Pearl River.

"That was the game right there," Pearl River Head Coach Tony Capone said. "We should have done much better than we did to start that second period. We were playing well, playing as a group. Then we got unfocused. WE were not sticking with our checks."

Six different players scored for the Quakers, who improved to 4-0 on the season. They had also won the Brewster Thanksgiving Tournament. Calder Fontaine scored two goals and assisted on another goal while Blake Davis added a goal and three assists for Greeley, which outshot Pearl River, 35-23. 

Horace Greeley coach Zach Dargaty said his team could have played better and might have looked past Pearl River to Sunday's game against Iona Prep.

"I told the guys after the game the only positive I take is we found a way to win when we weren't playing our best hockey," Dargaty said. "Some of that was us. Some of that was them. But we found aw ay to come back from 2-0 on the road.

"I thnk we overlooked Pearl River a little bit, which is a msitake because they have a real good team."

Shane Ocasal scored two goals and Kevin Murphy contributed a goal and two assists for the Pirates (0-1). Connor McMorrow and Max McGee each had a goal and an assist for Pearl River.

"We know we can score," Capone said. "We've got two lines who can put the puck in the net.

"Scoring five goals at this level, you shoul dbe abel to win some games. You can't give up seven. You're not doing the job defensively. It's not just the defensemen. It's the forwards picking guys up back checking."

Pearl River's next game is Nov. 7 at Sport-O-Rama against Nyack/Tappan Zee at 9:15 p.m.

Varsity Ice Hockey

Horace Greeley 7, Pearl River 5
Horace Greeley 1-5-1--7
Pearl River          2-2-1--5
Scoring
First Period
PR: Shane Ocasal (assists by Kevin Murphy, Connor Ocasal) 0:55
PR: Connor McMorrow (Murphy) 7:43
HG: Sam Mishkind (Scott Jabukowicz, Calder Fontaine) 14:04 
Second Period
HG: Nicholas Girard (Blake Davis) 1:06
HG: Davis (Matt Zandi) 1:51
HG: Fontaine (Jakubowicz, Jacob Sandor) 3:28
PR: Shane Ocasal (Max McGee, Connor Ocasal) 4:50
HG: Owen Gatto (Davis) 9:37
PR: Murphy (McMorrow) 11:03
HG: Zandi (Davis) 13:03
Third Period
HG: Fontaine (Michael Yablon) 2:28
PR: McGee
Goaltending
HG: Neil Hershman (23 shots-18 saves)
PR: Kyle Lakowski (35 shots-28 saves)