Sachem Opens New Year with Victory

Missing four players (Chizzonoti/Tarasco suspended, Posillico injured and Haun (not available) Sachem had to rely on Captains Chris Porcillo and Robbie Donnelly and winger Eric Santiago to lead the scoring attack against St. Anthony's, and they really came up big with a 6-4 victory to ring in the new year.

Porcillo opened the scoring in the first period on a crisp setup from Donnelly and Mike Buffaleno - who did a nice job playing forward helping to fill in for the missing players.

St. Anthony's tied it at 1 with three minutes left in the first period, only to have the Arrows take it back less then a minute later as Santiago scored on a play from Donnelly.

The back and forth game continued as the Friars tied it 30 seconds later at 2.

The short bench started to show as St. Anthony's started beating the Arrows to every puck, they took the neutral zone away and things weren't looking good as they scored to take the lead at the end of two periods, 3-2.

Going into the third period with a short bench and the forwards running low on gas, the defense being lead by Sal Calvagna and Joe Marrone started to show signs of life as they started blocking shots and what wasn't blocked Brandon Bassett was behind them to make the save.

Still trailing 3-2 in the third period, Calvagna blocked a shot which was cleared out of the zone to Brendon Smith who touch passed it to Robbie Donnelly, who went in alone on a break away and scored to tie it at 3. With this burst of life injected, the Arrows scored two more times in the next two minutes on goals by Santiago and Porcillo, which put them up by a 5-3 lead. St. Anthony's scored 30 seconds later making it a one goal game but again the Arrows never quit, as Mike Buffalino added an insurance goal making the final 6-4.

"Monday night showed a lot of poise and everyone reaching in and going the extra yard when the tanks were getting low," said Sachem coach Al Posillico. "We over came frustration and never quit. This was a well earned victory and with that effort each night we are going to give every team a battle."

The Arrows host Northport/Huntington next Sunday, January 8 at 6:10 p.m. at The Rinx in Hauppauge, and then the next night they take on Kings Park/Commack at 9:20 p.m., which is a televised game which will be televised on MSG Varsity.