The MTA Lions opened the week with a jam-packed schedule, playing a total of three games in just two nights! The JV team was up for the challenge on Tuesday night; opening up the doubleheader against a very strong SAR team. The Lions started off strong, taking a quick and easy 1-0 lead early on in the first period on a beautiful shot between two defenders by sophomore Alex Cooper. Soon after that, SAR’s offense took advantage of an accidental screen by the ref, putting the puck through the net to tie the game at one. In the second period, neither team was able to score until nine seconds left in the period. Freshman Chaim Simon got a pass from captain sophomore Dani Toth and took a strong wrist shot just above the goalie’s blocker, which put the Lions up one after two periods. In the third, the Lions put the icing on the cake as Toth secured his first goal of the game and Simon took a pass from captain sophomore Avi Glick and knocked it off the post for his second goal of the night, awarding the victory to the Lions.
In the later half of the double header, the Lions varsity team looked to complete the night sweep and bounce back from their earlier loss against SAR.It didn’t look too great for the Lions as SAR took a commanding two goal lead after five minutes of gameplay. The Lions played well, exchanging really good chances with SAR, but were unable to capitalize on lazy defense and entered the first intermission down two. Earlier on in the second period, captain senior Ezra Landa sent a rocket through the net off a missed save by the SAR goalie, cutting their lead to 2-1. After a penalty on SAR, junior Gavriel Rudman put the puck through the goalie, tying the game at two. Junior Dani Greenberg got the ball in the corner, put a shot on goal which deflected off the goalie, going into the net, giving the Lions a 3-2 lead. The third period went back and forth until Greenberg netted his second goal of the game all the way from the point. Goalie senior Shmuel Rosenthal capped off his 20 save night by shutting down an attempt from SAR after they pulled their goalie.
Just under 24 hours later, the Lions varsity team took the court against Kushner. This would be their second meeting of the season, after the first one resulted in an opening night victory at Kushner. It took about a minute for Kushner to take a 1-0 lead off a shot from the face off, but junior Max Sandel tied the game right back on a shot from the slot. Senior Eli Sheer then took over the first period, scoring consecutive goals, giving the Lions a lead. Kushner tied the game in the second, but Sandel was right there once again, putting the puck into the net giving the Lions a one goal lead at 4-3. In the third period, junior Noam Kornwasser broke out of his slump and put one through from the point, adding to the Lions lead. Kushner came right back with a goal of their own, to cut the Lions lead to one. Towards the end of the game, Greenberg put in his second goal of the game and the Lions sixth, giving them the lead 6-4. Kornwasser sealed the win with an almost full court slap shot, soaring over the goalie’s shoulder, ending the game in favor of the Lions, 7-4. After opening night, Landa said, “Get used to this,” because the Lions don’t plan to stop winning anytime soon.
By Donny Book
