This Mineola team is known as the comeback kids. In the last three games all close, Mineola has found a way to win. This time, it was Plainedge who fell to Mineola with under one minute to go.
It all starts with defense, as goalie Charlie Villa (16 saves) was outstanding in goal. Five times in the second half Charlie with Plainedge players on his door step slammed the door shut, not surrendering any goals on their point blank shots.
The four defensemen for Mineola constantly changed the tempo of the game with their aggressive play forcing Plainedge into numerous turnovers. In fact, Plainedge’s main offensive players were victims of big body checks causing the ball to go on the ground and when the ball was on the ground Mineola usually came up with it.
The boys behind this defensive pressure were Frankie Leckler(6 gb), Luke Santaniello(3 gb), James Muesig (3 gb), and Zach Cohen 1 gb). Having Leckler and company locking down Plainedge’s offense makes it very comfortably for Mineola in these close games.
Offensively Mineola can score with anybody, as they have proven time and time again. Tommy Renner (2 goals – 5 assists), James Rosellon (3 goals – 1 assist), and Peter Sluka (3 goals – 1 assist) seem to be able to score when needed. Ground ball (gb) leaders, Lukas Goring (1 assist – 7 gb), Luke Williams (1 assist -5 gb), Johnny V (4 gb), and Ely Hahami (4 gb), seem to get every ground ball which allows Mineola to retain possession in the offensive end of the field. With Mineola’s attackmen putting constant pressure on Plainedge’s defense, it forced Plainedge into countless mistakes, preventing them from getting into their offensive flow.
The boys responsible for this were Jack Murphy (1 goal-1 assist), CJ Kelly (3 gb), Tobey Hirsch (2 gb), Zach Samuel (2 gb), and Eli Mizhiritsky (1 gb). With under two minutes left, Peter Sluka won the face-off and came down the middle passing it to Luke Williams, who fed Murphy the ball. He made a strong dodge from behind the cage and beat the Plainedge goalie into the upper left corner, putting Mineola up 8-7. Plainedge came right back and tied the game 8-8.
With 45 seconds left in the game, Rosellon won the face-off and came down the right side of the field and passed to Renner who went around the cage and found a cutting Rosellon who then finished the play with a blistering shot that found the back of the cage giving Mineola 9-8 lead. With five seconds left, Rosellon won the last face-off to clinch the victory for Mineola. Face-off men Rosellon and Sluka dominated, winning 17 of 21 face-offs.
