In the opening two games of the best-of-three CHSHL Class A championship series, Monsignor Farrell jumped out to a two-goal lead. St. Anthony’s (L.I.) wasn’t about to let that happen again in the decisive third game Sunday night.
“We tightened up and went to a different forecheck, more of a trapping system,” Friars coach Jeff Stelmock said. “We had tremendous respect for their offensive capabilities.”
Instead, St. Anthony’s jumped out to a two-goal lead and held on to defeat Monsignor Farrell, 4-1, at the Ice Hutch in Mount Vernon. In only their second year in the CHSHL, the Friars captured their first title, ending the Lions bid to repeat as champions.
St. Anthony’s will play for the Catholic High School state title against defending champion Canisius next Sunday at the Ice Hutch.
“It was a tremendous achievement for us,” Stelmock said.
Billy Pascalli put St. Anthony’s (17-4-0) in front 4:06 into the first period, capitalizing on a favorable bounce off the boards. Evan Katz followed with a rebound midway through the second period.
As was the case throughout the postseason, Farrell (15-6-1) rallied. The Lions came back from a lopsided loss in the opening game to force a decisive Game 3. But unlike a 5-2 win against Iona Prep in a semifinal series, the Lions dug themselves a hole they couldn’t get out of against a bigger, stronger St. Anthony’s squad.
“We have a small team,” Farrell coach Peter Jerabeck said. “Our guys take their shirts off, they look like they came from Haiti. Their guys take their shirts off and they look like they came from Norway. It’s just a difference in size and they used it to their advantage.”
The Friars caught Monsignor Farrell with all three forwards behind the St. Anthony’s goal and made it 3-0 with 2:54 left in the second period on Chris Sabanos counterattack goal.
Farrell fought back as Joe Gambardella scored on a delayed penalty. Pascalli, though, answered with the backbreaker, scoring 35 seconds later on the power play to put the Friars in front, 4-1, at 5:15 of the third.
“That changed the whole momentum,” Jerabeck said. “We could have come back, but you’ve got to have a couple of bounces and create your bounces. Tonight, no bounce.”
No bounce means no championship for a Monsignor Farrell squad seeking its 11th CHSHL ‘A’ crown. And it also means the end of the road for Lions senior Mark Eadiciccio.
“This game we played well, but the other team is really good, without a doubt,” Eadiciccio said. “I’m a senior, but it’s hard. I’m done with hockey now.”