Monroe-Woodbury hockey earns 6-4 victory over Mahopac High School

On Monday afternoon, Feb. 10, the Crusaders took on the Indians of Mahopac High School at the Ice Time Sports Complex in Newburgh.

The Crusaders entered the game with a 5-12 record on the season while the Indians stood at 2-14-1.

The Crusaders started the scoring when quick passes from Connor Fischer and Chris Colter found Eddy Dovgan alone between the circles and his slapshot beat the Mahopac goalie for an early 1-0 lead.

But 20 seconds later the Indians took advantage of a Crusader breakdown and the first period ended with the score tied at one.

The Crusaders came out after the break with jump in their game and Colter scored off a Dovgan pass to put the team up 2-1. Again, the Indians responded with two quick goals right at the end of the period, first on a late whistle in front of the net with 1:53 left and then a goal on some nifty moves by Ryan Caraher to put the Indians up 3-2 at the end of two.

Things began to look grim for the Crusaders when the Indians scored again early in the third to go up 4-2.

The Crusaders waited until there was 6:47 left in the game to start their comeback. First, Crusader Andre Estrelia scored on what looked like a long dump-in that somehow slid under the Mahopac goalie to cut the Indians lead to one.

A minute latter Ryan Melican tied the score with a shot from the circle. The Crusaders were flying.

The Crusaders then put the puck into the Indians zone and put the pressure on. With 3:34 left in the game Dovgan took a pass from Colter and Melican, behind the net, and snuck the puck between the the post and the goalie to put the Crusaders up 5-4.

Twenty six seconds later Dovgan took the puck at mid ice and crossed the blue line and fired it into the unguarded Mahopac net to seal the Crusaders comeback win.

The Crusaders' 6-4 victory brings their record to 6-12 on the season. Their next game will be Feb. 19 when they travel to Brewester to face the Bears.

- William Dimmit