Dec. 8, 2005
Gulls Defeat MIT Behind Manfredi Hat Trick and Pardue Penalty Kill
After a disappointing trip to New Jersey before Thanksgiving Break, Endicott looked to really bounce back against Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The Gulls succeeded, returning to their high scoring style Saturday night, led by junior Mike Manfredi (3 goals, 1 assist) and getting help from sophomore Chris Garofalo (1 goal, 4 assists) and freshman Chris Linnehan (2 goals). Endicott's defense matched their offense, allowing only one goal despite playing much of the game a man down. The Gulls' penalty kill was led by senior goalie Jeff Pardue, who had maybe his best performance of the year, denying MIT on several 2-man advantages.
The first period belonged to Endicott's Garofalo, Linnehan, and senior Mark Vaughan. Garofalo scored on a power play in the opening 4 minutes of the game, allowing the MIT keeper to block his first shot but beating him with the quick second. About 4 minutes later, Linnehan pulled off an extraordinary move on an Engineer defenseman after gaining the zone, amazing enough to fake out the MIT goalie at the same time, and put enough on a backhand shot to watch it glide past the unprepared goalie. Later that period after a series of shots and rebounds by freshman Brad Butcher and Garofalo, Linnehan beat line-mate Vaughan to a loose puck in the MIT crease for the open netter.
The middle period was characterized by Endicott penalties and Pardue coming to the rescue. The greater part of the period saw the Gulls' penalty kill take the ice, even lasting over 5 minutes two men down. During an especially long stretch with two or more men in the box, Pardue kept the Engineers scoreless, even while one of the 3 Gull defenders was without a stick during a significant portion of that time. Manfredi scored his first goal of the game in the second period on a beautifully executed give and go with sophomore defenseman Jeff Lallier, finished off with a first-class shot.
Prior to the game, assistant captain Joe Dudek was given a brand new stick as a gift from his mother and father attending the game from New Hampshire. The new wand made a big difference as he scored the final goal of the period, clobbering the MIT goalie for a loose puck with help from Manfredi and Vaughan.
3 minutes into the third period, Manfredi got his second goal of the game in a very unusual fashion: taking a shot from a horrible angle after making a good move to get past a defenseman, gaining the rebound behind the net, and flipping it up in the air towards the front. The puck hit the back of the MIT goalie's helmet and slowly trickled down his back and into the net.
The Engineers managed to get the one goal past Pardue almost halfway through the period on a fast break and finished by freshman Ryan Ballentine. Enforcer Kenny Dargon struck back a few minutes later, with a great individual effort, by bringing the puck up from a bad angle, Dargon let go of a shot and created a rebound he was able to knock by the goal keeper.
Going into the final minute and still looking for that third goal to complete the hat trick, Manfredi and Garofalo went to work. In a fashion resembling pick-up hockey, the two skilled forwards looked like they were really having a lot of fun, pulling out move after move. Naturally, Manfredi put the biscuit in the basket for his coveted third goal and Garofalo's remarkable fourth assist.
Endicott has 2 games remaining before winter break, when the Gulls will face off against fellow NECHA power-house UNH Saturday, December 10th at 7 pm at Pingree. The final game will have the Gulls traveling to UMASS Amherst on Monday, December 12th for a 9:00pm start.
