White Plains Knocks Off Mamaroneck In Overtime

The White Plains Tigers overcame a 3-1 third period deficit and scored a goal with less than a minute remaining in overtime to defeat Mamaroneck 4-3 Tuesday night in thrilling fashion.

Although White Plains scored early, the game was controlled by Mamaroneck throughout the first two periods.  A great effort from White Plains goaltender Ricky Zaccaria was all that kept Mamaroneck off the scoreboard until halfway through the second period. 

At that point Mamaroneck appeared to take control of the contest.  After cleaning up a loose puck in front of the net for their first goal, Mamaroneck took the lead with 11:52 remaining in the second period on a goal by Joe Naclerio.  That goal was quickly followed by a great one-timer by Scott Hagan that extended the lead to 3-1.

It would be the last goal for Mamaroneck in the game.

"We just came out and we didn't play with any urgency," said Mamaroneck Head Coach Mike Chiapparelli.  "We weren't tired; we just didn't play with any urgency."

In the third period, White Plains had no trouble in that regard.  White Plains controlled the puck early on, creating a handful of scoring oppurtunities that eventually resulted in a Jeremy Lindh goal that cut the deficit in half.

"We were coming into this like, alright, we lost last week, we gave them a good run and we are coming into this like we are going to go just as hard," said Lindh.  "The first goal really is a momentum changer.  As soon as you get that the crowd goes crazy, the entire bench, our coach and everyone gets fired up."

But with just over three minutes remaining, it appeared that the equalizing goal would never materialize for White Plains.  At that point, Mamaroneck nearly put the game away, it took an outstanding glove save by Zaccaria on a slap shot to his left side to keep White Plains within striking distance.

That set the stage for a dramatic White Plains goal in the closing minutes of regulation.  Working down the left side of the ice, Joe Naclerio knocked in the game-tying goal with 2:15 remaining, sending the game into overtime.

The offensive struggles continued for Mamaroneck in the overtime period.  Every look at the net was either deflected or quickly slapped away by White Plains defenders.

"I think we were trying to get too close for the shots, we should have just taken shots," said Chiapparelli.  "You need the shots to get on net and we didn't do it."

White Plains did.  With only 30 seconds remaining in the five minute overtime, Lindh and teamate Dan Broderick pushed the puck into the Mamaroneck end.  The shot by Broderick somehow trickled into the net and White Plains left with a 4-3 road victory.

"To be honest with you, I didn't even see the shot...they just put it on net," said Chiapparelli, whose team now drops to 10-2 on the season.  "Any shot's a great shot in overtime and you saw it, it wasn't a good shot that went in."