Coach Pete Thomas has been telling Rye’s boys hockey team of late, “We need to get out faster and stronger in that first period.”
Message received, Coach.
Senior Connor Brady, and the brothers Niejadlik (Will, then Max, both freshmen) all scored first-period goals Friday night to give the Garnets an early three-goal lead, and eventually, a 5-2 win against a game Pawling Tigers team. Pawling is a combined team made up of players from three high schools in the Poughkeepsie area (Pawling, Our Lady of Lourdes and Dover High Schools.)
“That first period was the way we like to play hockey,” Thomas said. “We’ve been struggling a bit of late to get started, and tonight we really set the tone early.”
Rye outshot Pawling 16-5 in that first period.
Pawling answered back with two second-period goals, capitalizing on a couple of untimely Rye penalties. But an unassisted second-period goal by junior Jamie Morris, and a rocket-wrister from Will Niejadlik (his second of the game) sealed the victory for the Garnets. Junior Owen Fitzgibbons was strong all night in goal for Rye.
Rye record: 7-4-1
Coming up:
vs. Pelham, 7:45 p.m. Jan. 29 at Playland
vs. Mamaroneck, 5:25 p.m. Jan. 31 at Hommocks
