Cougars Fight Through Late Penalties To Beat Warwick Vets, 4-1

The /North Providence Cougars surrendered one power-play goal during Saturday’s first period, but they stymied the dogged Hurricanes of Warwick Vets throughout the remainder of the contest, winning 4-1, January 29 in Warwick.

Senior goalie Christopher Casto denied 11 shots by Warwick Vets (2-9-0 in Division III; same record overall) during the second and third periods and 15 overall to earn the victory, starting in place of first-team junior netminder Matthew Domaingue.

“Casto stepped up,” said Johnston/North Providence co-head coach Fred Morrison. “He’s only been playing a few years, and he played good. He was well-positioned and played well for us.”

The Johnston/North Providence goalkeeper dealt especially well with Christopher Deignan, the Hurricanes’ captain, who was lost to injury with 6:12 to play Saturday.

Though Casto did not allow Deignan to score, the senior Hurricane acted as a catalyst for Warwick Vets, attacking the Cougars defenders and providing an assist to Daniel Pickering, whose 5-on-3 tally negated the Cougars’ one-goal lead.

“Christopher Deignan’s a great player,” Morrison said. “He’s not their whole team, but he’s a leader. They all look to him, so it’s a tough loss.”

Prior to Pickering’s strike, junior forward Robert Tonucci potted the game’s first goal, with help from senior defender Nico Manzotti. The Cougars sacrificed the 1-0 lead, but they regained the advantage at 11:40 of the second period, when junior forward John Rappa scored with an assist from linemate Daniel Evans, a senior forward.

However, the undermanned Hurricanes continued to attack Johnston/North Providence with just eight skaters, and the Cougars were forced play much of the third period as a shorthanded team.

Johnston/North Providence (11-1-0 in Division III, 12-1-1 overall) accrued nine third-period penalty minutes, including 3:00 to senior forward Brendon Marshall, who drew 1:30 for elbowing and an additional 1:30 for unsportsmanlike conduct at 3:26.

“We get a little emotional, at times, as a team. Some of the penalties we get are out of emotion,” Morrison said.

With Marshall still in the box, senior forward and captain Damon Ascenzi picked up another 90-second penalty for slashing at 4:06, then senior defender and captain Andrew Delicio skated off for roughing 5:36.

Senior defender Ryan Rotondi was also cited for his second infraction at 6:13, but the Cougars proceeded to rebuff the Hurricanes, who struggled to exploit the man-advantage without Deignan. Ironically, Deignan was penalized for holding at 5:48; as he moved slowly toward the locker room, teammate Stephen Martinelli skated across the ice to serve the time for Warwick Vets.

At even-strength, the Cougars began to assert themselves again. Rappa scored his second goal of the game at 9:04 with another assist from Evans, and his third (unassisted) at 11:27.

“He’s starting to come into his own,” Morrison said, referring to Rappa. “He’s starting to get that confidence.”

The value of Rappa’s production is enhanced by the absence of first-line forward David Delgizzo, who was unavailable to Morrison and co-head coach David Accetturo Saturday.

The Cougars return to the ice Friday, February 4 at 9 p.m., when they meet the co-operative unit representing West Warwick and Exeter/West Greenwich.