Nov. 8, 2005
Gulls Overpower Bryant in Physical Penalty-Filled Game
The Endicott hockey team traveled down to Burrilville, Rhode Island Friday night to take on Bryant in a game full of jaw-dropping plays.
The Bulldogs' home-field advantage was evident during the game in the form of loud, rowdy fans. Trying to "Break the (attendance) Record", as a banner read, the Bryant fans ceaselessly made their presence felt throughout the entire game. Whether or not the fans had an affect on the referees as well, the two striped officials made their presence felt too, calling nearly 60 minutes worth of penalties.
The physical play had an immediate affect as several penalties were called early in the game. Unfortunate for the Gulls, Junior Mike Manfredi, currently on a hot streak, went down with knee injury after a low hit in the first five minutes. Graduate student Kenny Dargon immediately came back though with a huge hit along the boards, sending Bryant a message early. Proving what kind of a hockey player he is, Manfredi didn't stay out of the game for too long either, returning to the ice later that same period.
The rest of the first saw the two team's trade blows, one big hit after another. This physical play was matched with finesse between the pipes for both teams as well. Senior goalie Jeff Pardue kept the Bulldogs scoreless, even during a five minute stretch of Endicott penalties. Pardue came up with a series of big saves, including one slick stop with his glove. Forward Bryan Caccamo did his part to help Pardue too by back-checking a Bryant odd-man rush and breaking up a pass that would have resulted in a wide open net for a Bulldog and a potential goal.
The second period started the same way as the first: Bryant coming out hitting hard and Endicott hitting back harder. With the game showcasing the effective short-handed units of both teams, the Gulls' power-play managed to work one past the Bryant goaltender for the first goal of the game. Breaking out of their own zone, sophomore Mike Ripley tried passing to Senior Captain Adam Partaledis but missed and sent the puck off the boards and into the Bryant zone to about the top of the circle. Partaledis went after the loose puck but was met by a Bryant defenseman. The result was the defenseman taking both Partaledis and himself out of the play, leaving Manfredi with the puck and an open lane to the net. Manfredi made his shot count as he beat the goalie with a bulls' eye.
Less than three minutes later, skilled sophomore Chris Garofalo took advantage of the Gulls momentum to put in Endicott's second goal. Taking control of the puck already in the Bulldog zone, Garofalo made a series of stupefying moves to beat numerous Bryant defenders and then making his shot count. While Garofalo may not have needed much help, Partaledis and Sophomore Jeff Lallier got assists on the play. The remainder of the second continued just as the first had: hard hitting, lots of penalties, and superb goaltending. Dargon continued to lead the Gulls fierce hitting and defenseman Mike Ripley doing his share as well. The final minute of the period witnessed Pardue's best save of the game: after making one big save, the Bulldogs fired a quick second shot leaving the Gull keeper no time to even sit up. While on his back, Pardue stretched out in a Dominik Hasek manner and robbed Bryant of the goal.
With the physical nature of the game and the loads of boisterous fans, the game certainly had the potential to get out of hand. If it were not for the officiating on the ice (despite several questionable calls) and the discipline of the Endicott team.
The Gulls took control of the game in the second period and added to their lead early in the third. Garofalo struck again, this time relying more on his shooting ability than his stick handling, as he skated down the wing and stuck his shot for his second tally of the game, giving Endicott the 3-0 lead. Later in that shift, Garofalo pulled off yet another miraculous play. Crossing the blue line with the puck, the sophomore lost control in a manner that sent the puck trickling through the defenseman. Garofalo completed a spin move to get around the Bryant player and regained the puck and getting off a shot. While the move was primarily an accident; Garofalo pulled it off so fluently it looked as though he'd meant to do it. But nonetheless, the Bulldog goalie made the save and prevented the hat trick. Still hungry for the third goal, Garofalo almost succeeded after tipping a Ripley shot from the point, deflecting off the post in the wrong direction.
Despite the 3 goal lead, Bryant refused to give up, scoring on a two-man power-play with eight minutes left in the third, setting the screen in front of Pardue and tipping a shot through the five-hole. Seconds later, still on the power play, Bryant almost scored again off another screen and tip, but Pardue refused to be fooled twice as he pulled off the kick save. Bryant did manage to squeeze one more past Pardue, but despite a power play for the final minute and a half and pulling their goalie, the Bulldogs couldn't rally for the tie. Both teams created great scoring chances in the final 5 minutes of the game, but both failed to score.
Coming off the big win, Endicott looks to carry the momentum into their home game tomorrow night, Saturday, November 5th against Bridgewater State at Johnson Rink.
