Clarkstown Hockey Wins Senior Game Over Burke Catholic

Clarkstown hockey defeated Burke Catholic, 6-5, in Sunday evening’s game on the ice at Palisades Center, where the team honored its senior members.

“We scrimmaged them earlier in the season and it was a close game, so we knew they were a good team,” said senior Stephen Rohrig.  “We got off to an early lead in the first period and kind of let off and let them back into the game, but we closed it off strong at the end.”

An excellent effort by Clarkstown’s goalie for most of the game, Mike Levy, and the defenders backing him up was key.  The game culminated in heart-pounding fashion, as Clarkstown’s three defenders and goalie scrambled in the final seconds to repel the attacking Burke Catholic, which was advancing on the goal with all six players on the ice.  Clarkstown would hold to win the game in regulation.

For the seniors on the team, the win had special significance.

“It’s a pretty important game because it’s the senior game,” said senior Greg Lovaglio.  “Other than that, it’s just a normal game, but I was happy that we won.  It was a good game.” 

Senior teammate David O’Sullivan expanded on Lovaglio’s sentiments, saying, “It’s the end of our season and it’s our final varsity season, so it’s nice to get on the ice and finish up like this and it’s almost our final game and we’re finishing after this.”

The seniors also shared their perspective on their final year on the team and what their role has been.

“We combined this year, so this year is the first year that we combined with North, so it’s definitely been a different experience,” said senior Jamie Mullin.  She added, “We have our two captains who are seniors, and all the seniors basically are role models for the other players.”

Fellow senior Dan Lovaglio expanded on this, saying, “Yeah, and we’re trying to show the freshmen what to do and trying to help them out and make them better.”

For these seniors, the commitment they have showed for the team has given them a great experience which they will carry with them as they move out into the world.

“It’s meant a lot to us,” said Dan Lovaglio.  “It’s been the main thing we do in the winter time, so it kind of takes over your life, but it’s been a lot of fun.”

Clarkstown’s head coach, Andrew Trust, had nothing but praise for the hardworking group of seniors, saying “Especially this year, the seniors have been good because we have a group of seniors that plays regularly and we have a group of seniors that are part of their team and don’t see as much ice time, but all the seniors have maintained positive attitudes throughout the season, which is difficult, because it’s a long, rough season and this is the type of game where our tempers and emotions can get the best of us and, for the most part, they held it together in this game and that’s how they’ve been all season.”

Clarkstown took an early 3-2 lead off two goals from AJ Sanfratello and one from Adam Myers to end the first period out on top.  Burke Catholic fired back with two consecutive goals in the second to take a 4-3 lead.  Myers came right back at them however, to tie it up on the breakaway in the final minutes of the period.

Clarkstown came out in control in the third as they unrelentingly attacked, keeping the puck on their opponent’s side of the ice.  Just a few minutes into the period, it paid off as first Myers and then Mitch Leseur scored to put them up by 6-4.  Clarkstown then kept Burke Catholic at bay as they buckled down and focused on their defense.  Burke Catholic was able to score one more, however they could not quite break through to score another and Clarkstown won it 6-5.

“In the end, it just came down to goaltending,” said Trust.  “Our goaltender played better than their goaltender.  Our weaknesses were we were not being physical enough and we were being pushed off the puck.  Our strength was just our determination at the end, that the guys realized that they wanted to win so they were able to bury a couple pucks and get the lead.”

Clarkstown improves to 9-8-1 for the season.  The win sends them into a tough week on the upswing.

“This is good,” said Trust.  “We’ve got a big game tomorrow night against New Rochelle and our final league game on Wednesday against Nyack/Tappan Zee.  If we win out, we should be the sixth seed in the section tournament which would give us a home playoff game and give us an opportunity to move deep into the playoffs.”

Clarkstown plays next at New Rochelle today, Feb. 14, at 6 p.m.