Pete Paguaga, Sports Editor-
In their first home game since their three-goal collapse against Farmingdale State University last week, the Ice Owls came out swinging, and the University at Albany was their punching bag as the Ice Owls skated easily to a 9-4 victory.
“It was a great rebound game after the Farmingdale game,” said assistant coach Jake Bauer.
Southern, not wearing their typical baby blue home jerseys, came out in pink and white jerseys in support of the fight against Breast Cancer, and scored first on a goal by Co-Captain Matt D’Amato. The Great Danes from Albany tailed a goal shortly after to tie the game at 1-1.
Southern’s other captain Owl Joe Innamorato scored, on a great strategic shot by D’Amato which hit the goalie on his far pad and went right to Innamorato’s stick, to give Southern the 2-1 lead going into the first intermission.
The second period started off with a bang as Albany scored twice to retake the lead at 3-2 only two minutes into the period. The Ice Owls would respond after a shake up within the lines.
“We made a switch in the second period,” said Head Coach Steve Novador. “We put Mike Dubecky with Tom Marchitto and Matt Garofalo and we put Steve Rosenkrantz and Joey Barnes with Kyle Amarone, they helped put some big goals on the board.”
The 3-2 lead would be the last time Albany was in control, as the Ice Owls piled on five straight goals to take a 7-3 lead into the third period. Goals were scored by Innamorato, Barnes, Dubecky and Marchitto and for the second time of the night, D’Amato.
Southern’s goals during the second period were results of hard work, crashing the net and “cleaning up the garbage” in front, in the wise words of fictional coach, Gordon Bombay.
“We out-shot them, and we beat them getting to the net,” said Novador. “We stressed crashing to net a lot.”
The Ice Owls out-shot Albany 24-8 during the second period and 47-28 over the whole game.
The second period didn’t end quietly, as Co-Captain Innamarto got into a scrap in the corner, right before the period ended. This, on top of the four-goal lead, seemed to get the team and the fans riled up heading into the third and final period of what was a hard hitting, body throwing, old school hockey game.
“They showed us, that they can play like a team,” said Bauer. “They are gelling at the right time.”
The third period picked up just where the second period left off, hard hits and more penalties to both teams.
After Albany scored within the first two minutes of the third period to make the score 7-4, another scrap broke out after the whistle blew. One of the Albany players threw a punch and knocked down Ice Owls forward Garofalo. After seeing this, defenseman Michael Penna and forward Marchitto took exception to this and stuck up for Garofalo. Penna and Marchitto both received two minutes for roughing while the Albany player received a five-minute major for fighting.
Southern would go on to add two more goals in the period on goals by Innamorato and Garofalo to extend their lead to 9-4. Innamorato’s goal was again assisted by his line mate and teammate since they were kids, Matt D’Amato.
“Me and Joe go way back,” said D’Amato. “We’ve been playing together since we were four years old.”
Southern’s win helps them move up into a better ranking for the regional tournament.
“We played a complete game, offense and defense,” said Innamorato. “We played our game, run and gun, if we score nine goals in a game there is no reason why we won’t win.”
Up next for the Ice Owls is the Empire Collegiate Hockey Conference Tournament, then the Regional Tournament for a shot at a spot at Nationals.