On Sunday March 11, TABC and Frisch finally faced off at TABC after being snowed out the previous Wednesday. This was the third meeting between the two teams this year with TABC squeaking out victories in both previous games. Frisch (the West 4 seed) came in determined to take this one over TABC (the West 2 seed), and they did not disappoint. Frisch came out flying for the first few shifts, getting some good scoring chances. TABC fought back and evened out the play as the period wore on. Frisch had the best scoring opportunity of the period when Benjy Feintuch one timed a shot on net off a pass from Joe Tropp. TABC goalie Avrumi Davis made a pad save but the rebound came right out to a crashing Tropp. Tropp pounced on the rebound, but Davis made a spectacular paddle save to keep the game scoreless. The period ended knotted at 0-0.
Frisch came out strong in the second period and took a 1-0 lead just 53 seconds into the period, when Simon Morgenstern kept the ball in the zone, getting it over to Benjy Feintuch at the foul line extended as he one timed a shot, beating Davis on the short side. Just a minute later, Tropp would hit the crossbar, keeping the pressure on. Frisch would hit another crossbar two minutes later when Charlie Bendheim back handed a shot from the top of the key. Frisch kept the pressure on all period, controlling the bulk of the play and limiting TABC’s opportunities. The period ended with Frisch still up by one.
TABC turned up the pressure to start the third period, including a very creative one handed scoring opportunity by Yitzy Kopstick and a shot from the point by Netanel Kramer that Isaac Markovitz got a piece of before it hit the post. Frisch looked to settle things down and reclaim the momentum and, with 9:05 left in the period Maury Bauer picked off a blind backhand pass at the point and rushed in all alone on a breakaway. Bauer held and got Davis to drop his pads before he roofed the ball over his glove and into the top corner for a 2-0 Frisch lead. Both teams would trade scoring opportunities, but Markovitz shut the door the rest of the way earning the impressive shutout.
With the victory, Frisch continues their impressive playoff run, picking off the teams they were unable to defeat in the regular season. Last on the list, and up next for Frisch, they face the SAR Sting in the championship at Lawrence Middle School on Sunday, March 18, and, for the second year in a row, Frisch will play in both the JV and varsity championships.
By Coach Yaak Lisker
