Riverhead and Mattituck/Greenport/Southold came together for a non-league game on Monday at Mattituck High School. Separated by two divisions, the neighboring towns played with the added fire that comes when you play against kids you personally know. Penalties were called, elbows were thrown and good ol’ fashioned friendly smack talk ran rampant across the field.
The game ultimately was won at the face-off circle. Riverhead’s John Ehlers dominated the Tuckers, winning 13 out of 20 face-off opportunities and Riverhead etched another win in the victory column, 11-5.
“We were expecting to run with them,” acting Tuckers head coach Kyle Sopko said. “But after falling behind 5-0, it’s tough to get the team going. It really came down to not getting enough offensive possessions. Their face-off kid did a good job today.”
The Tuckers, after making the playoffs last year for the first time in their four-year history, have started the season strong with two straight wins before being tripped up by Riverhead.
“We’ve already beaten Center Moriches,” Sopko said. “And they’re always a strong team in our division.”
Riverhead (0-2 League II, 2-3 overall) was as crisp as they’ve been all season in the first half. When the ball’s flying around effortlessly from stick to stick, shot opportunities always present themselves and the difference between this game and those prior was that they finally capitalized on said opportunities.
Mark Andrejack once again led the way with a team-high four goals. The senior now has 15 goals through just five games.
“Been playing for Riverhead my whole life and this is my last season,” Andrejack said. “I’m leaving it all out there. But it’s not just me, my team is playing well with me.”
Seven different Blue Waves scored in the victory: Kerry Thomas, Chris Flood, Andre Juarez, Ben Weir, Luke Zuhoski, Austin Fitzpatrick with two and Andrejack.
But the real MVP was the goaltending by both John Roca and Jacob Coleman. Roca played the first half and Coleman got his first action since the opening game against Sachem East.
“Our goalies were outstanding,” Riverhead head coach Vic Guadagnino said.
Though Guadagnino planned to use both goalies throughout the season, Roca has been playing more minutes because Coleman has been out with an injury. But now that Coleman’s back, he will get some action but nothing’s guaranteed the rest of the way.
“Roca’s red hot,” Guadagnino said. “He’s having an amazing season. It’s hard for me to take him off the field.”
Roca finished with five saves with two goals allowed and Coleman, a sophomore with a commitment to Hoftsra University, came up with nine with three goals allowed. The Dowling College-commit Roca is definitely the more vocal of the two in directing the defense, a quality Guagadnino hopes grows into his sophomore goalie.
“John’s ability to be vocal makes a huge difference,” Guadagnino said. “He’s playing like a senior and a leader out there.”
After losing to Half Hollow Hills on Wednesday, the win will fuel some momentum and Riverhead seeks its first league win against North Babylon on Wednesday.
“That game is huge for us,” Andrejack said. “We have to get some league wins under our belt and get into playoffs. No not just that, but to win in the playoffs.”
Tim Schmidt led the Tuckers in goals scored with two.
Mattituck travels to Port Jefferson on Saturday.
RiverheadLOCAL photos by Courtney Blasl
