The SAR Sting varsity hockey team marched into the lion’s den to face off against the MTA Lions for their first game of the year. The game started off slow for the Sting, as the score was tied at 0-0 with three minutes left in the period. However, after killing off an MTA power play, SAR was given a power play of their own. On the play, SAR junior Solomon Freilich found the net to give the sting a 1-0 lead. Not more than 40 seconds later, Freilich again scored, this time on a nifty setup by senior Josh Rosenberg. With one minute left in the 1st, Freilich struck again, smacking a wrister to the top right corner of the net, giving SAR a 3-goal lead.
SAR continued its ambush on MTA, when junior Joey Mogilner scored for a 4-0 lead. SAR would not relinquish the lead, buoyed by strong play from senior goalie Jonah Amron, and lockdown defense from sophomore Jason Burian and Captain Azi Lavi. Freilich scored his fourth goal of the game late in the third period, on another beautiful pass from Rosenberg. Senior defenseman Eli Best lifted a shot over MTA goalie Jacob Boim for the sixth and final SAR goal of the night. The game was a nice way to start the season for the now undefeated SAR sting.
Last week the SAR Sting varsity hockey yeam hosted the MTA Lions in their home opener. The Sting, coming off a 6-0 win against the very same MTA team, came out very lethargic. Sustained by great play from goaltender Jacob Boim, MTA and SAR were tied at zero with around four minutes left in the first period. Wanting to shake things up, Coaches Howie and Noah Falkenstein decided to transition to a 3-1 composition, instead of the usual 2-2. With Azi Lavi, Josh Rosenberg and Solomon Freilich all playing offense, the MTA defense had no answer, and Freilich netted the first SAR goal of the night.
In the second period, Freilich scored again, giving SAR a 2-0 lead. Around five minutes later, senior Ariel Smith made a great pass to Captain Azi Lavi, who scored his first goal of the year; this gave the Sting a 3-goal lead. With time running out in the second period, Sam Soff scored a nifty goal on a backhand, and SAR had a 4-0 lead. In the third period, Solomon Freilich scored again, his third goal of the night, adding to his league-leading seventh of the year. Jonah Amron and Ben Winter combined for a shutout for the 2-0, first place, SAR Sting.
By Joseph “Mog” Mogilner
