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The Record, Troy, NY
July 31, 2000
By Stan Hudy, Special to The Record

Adirondack and Central finished 3-1-1, but Adirondack got the silver based on a tie-breaker for having allowed fewer goals. Among those on the team were Marc Carpenter of Queensbury, Brandon Merkosky of Queensbury and Kevin Vogel of Glens Falls.

The Record, Troy, NY
Monday, March 13, 2000

Cadets win elusive state championship

By Chris Fitz Gerald

UTICA -- When the final buzzer sounded, a wave of La Salle Institute players swarmed off the bench and leaped onto the ice in victory.

On the bottom of the mob was sophomore goalkeeper Tys Bailey-Yavonditte, and not far behind was senior defenseman Adam Samiof.

The celebration wasindicative of the intense finish to an all-Section II state championship game which the pair and their teammates can savor for some time.

Samiof scored the game-winner unassisted with 42 seconds left in regulation and Bailey-Yavonditte won his second game in relief of senior Matt Dominelli as La Salle again stymied Glens Falls High, 4-3, in the New York State Public High School Athletic Association's Division II final at Utica Memorial Auditorium.

"It's been a long four years and a long

time coming," Samiof said. "The feeling is unbelievable. You don't expect it and then it happens, and you're blown away. You don't know what to do but just jump around."

Senior winger Kyle Reynolds contributed two goals for the Cadets, who finish at 21-5-2 to claim their first state crown in hockey in the program's fourth appearance in the final.

Samiof intercepted an attempted clearing pass, sped down the left wing and wristed an off wing shot over senior goalkeeper Matt O'Connor's left shoulder.

"As soon as I got the puck at center-ice, I wasn't looking to score," Samiof said. "I saw my linemates changing and I figured I would just get the puck down there and maybe I could get a shot off and get the rebound."

The goal left O'Connor and his Glens Falls teammates stunned.

"We've run that drill in practice the four years I've been here," said Samiof, who was selected as tournament most valuable player. "And coach Flanigan has preached that if you get that shot off and fire into the opposite corner, it's going to go in, because the goalie isn't going to expect you're going to come up with that shot."

Glens Falls (18-10-1), which qualified for the state tournament with an at-large bid, finishes its extended season series with La Salle at 1-3, including three consecutive defeats to the Cadets.

"This was just a great ending to a great game," La Salle coach Tim Flanigan said. "Glens Falls is a great team and it looked like they were going to dominate us in the first five minutes ... We came back and it's just a testament to how good Section II is with the top four teams, La Salle, Glens Falls, Saratoga and Shenendehowa."

In the Division I final, Section III champion Ithaca avenged a defeat in last year's title game with a 4-0 triumph over Saratoga.

Bailey-Yavonditte was given the nod over starting goaltender Dominelli to start the third period with the Cadets leading 3-2 and made five saves to earn his second victory in the last three games.

"We've done this between these guys two times before this season," Flanigan said. "And the great thing with these guys is they're honest with me. This time, I didn't ask Matt about it. I thought Tys could shut them down, but I had to have a look at him quick. Because if he didn't have it, I would have put Matt back in."

After yielding a tying goal (3-3) to Kyle Joly which rolled off the goaltender's glove and into the net 3:36 into the period, Bailey-Yavonditte was perfect the rest of the way.

"I just tried to stay calm and not get nervous," said Bailey-Yavonditte, who played the final two periods to carry the Cadets to a 3-2 victory over Fulton in the regionals last Saturday. "And after that first goal, I was even more nervous. But after I drew a penalty, I felt OK after that. With the way my defense plays in front of me, everything was easy."

Dominelli was pulled after he surrendered a power-play goal by sophomore forward Tom Girard with 14 seconds remaining in the second period.

"It was shot wide and then I was down, and it just bounced back (to Girard)," said Dominelli, who made 17 saves in La Salle's 3-2 semifinal win over Plattsburgh on Friday. "I should have had it ... I had a feeling it was going to come down to the wire like this. It (the goalie change) was fine, I just wanted to win."

After a relatively flat first period by the Cadets in which Glens Falls junior defenseman Josh Tefft tallied at 7:36, La Salle responded quickly with three goals in the first 5:04 in the second period.

Freshman forward Eric Cassidy took a pass from Samiof and lifted a shot over O'Connor's glove just 49 seconds into the period.

The Cadets then swung the momentum their way with some clutch special teams execution.

With the Cadets on a power play, Reynolds accepted a pass from junior defenseman Justin Burke, worked his way past a pair of defenders and slipped a shot between O'Connor and the left goal post at 2:44.

With junior center Brian Mohan in the penalty box with a double minor, Reynolds collected a wide shot by Mike Barbera. Mohan lifted a shot over an outstretched O'Connor at 5:04 for a shorthanded goal and 3-1 advantage.

"In the first period we were down 1-0, we were ticked off because nothing was going right and they were all over us the whole time," Reynolds said. "We just exploded in the second period."

The Cadets would eventually yield the two-goal lead,but led by Samiof and Bailey-Yavonditte went on to make school history in the third period.

"On (the bus ride) out, the kids asked me which is the best team I've ever had at La Salle," said Flanigan, who completed his fifth year as head coach and spent two previous seasons as an assistant. "Without a doubt, this is a complete team we have here."

LA SALLE 4, GLENS FALLS 3

Glens Falls ..................................1 1 1 --3

La Salle....................................... 0 3 1 --4

First Period: Scoring -- 1, GF, Josh Tefft (Ray Sipowicz, Tom Girard), 7:36. Penalties -- L-Colin Griffith (tripping), 11:36.

Second Period: Scoring -- 2, LSI, Eric Cassidy (Adam Samiof, Mike Barbera), :49; 3, LSI, Kyle Reynolds (Justin Burke), 2:44 (pp); 4, LSI, Reynolds (Barbera), 5:04 (sh); 5, GF, Girard (Ryan Bennett), 12:44 (pp). Penalties -- GF-Carpenter (elbowing), 2:28; LSI-Mohan (tripping), 3:40; LSI-Mohan (cross checking), 3:40; LSI-K.Reynolds (high sticking), 11:28.

Third Period: Scoring -- 6, GF, Kyle Joly (Brian Herlihy, Girard), 3:36; 7, LSI, Samiof (unassisted), 14:18. Penalties -- GF-Vogel (high sticking), 5:15; LSI-Barbera (roughing), 8:03; GF-Powers (roughing), 8:03; GF-Palmer (roughing), 8:55.

Power-play opportunities: Glens Falls 1-for-3; La Salle 1-for-4.

Shots on goal: Glens Falls 10-5-6-21; La Salle 10-15-10-35.

Goalies: Glens Falls, Matt O'Connor (35 shots-31 saves); La Salle, Matt Dominelli (15 shots-13 saves), Tys Bailey-Yavonditte, enters at start of third period (6 shots-5 saves).

All-Tournament Team: Adam Samioff, MVP; Kyle Reynolds, Andrew Carnevale, La Salle; Matt O'Connor, Kyle Joly, T.J. Palmer, Glens Falls.

ITHACA 4, SARATOGA 0

Ithaca 3 1 0 --4

Saratoga 0 0 0 --0

First Period: Scoring -- 1, Ith, Matt Caren (Brett Huckle, Sam Grossman), 3:11; 2, Ith, Caren (Huckle), 3:22; 3, Ith, Caren (Sam Grossman), 3:57. Penalties -- None.

Second Period: Scoring -- 4, Ith, Chris Uber (unassisted), 4:22. Penalties -- Ith-Huckle (checking from behind), 1:17; Ith-Dustin Brown (slashing), 8:23; Sar-Mike Paine (roughing), 8;23; Sar-Paul Fennessey (hitting after the whistle), 11:02.

Third Period: Scoring-- None. Penalties -- Ith-Justin Field (holding), 12:40.

Power-play opportunities: Ithaca 0-for-2; Saratoga 0-for-3.

Shots on goal: Ithaca 15-8-4-27; Saratoga 4-9-6-19.

Goalies: Ithaca, David Wrisley (19 shots-19 saves); Saratoga, Mark Paine (27-23).

The Post-Star, Glens Falls, NY

Monday, March 13, 2000

Erin R. Coker photo
Glens Falls coach Don Miller consoles goalie Matt
O'Connor after the Indians lost the Division II State
Championship Game 4-3 Sunday.

Heartbreaker

La Salle scores with 42 seconds remaining to down Glens Falls

By Ryan O'Halloran, Sports Writer

UTICA -- The negative thoughts never crossed T.J. Palmer 's mind.
Not once did Palmer think the Glens Falls hockey team would lose to LaSalle Sunday in the Division II State Championship Game at the Utica Memorial Auditorium.
Even when the Indians gave up three goals in a five-minute span of the second period, trailed by two goals late in the second and were playing the most important game of the season on their heels, being outshot by a nearly two-to-one margin, did Palmer have doubts.
"That's the way it was the whole game -- I never thought we were going to lose," Palmer said.
In the end, though, Palmer and the rest of his team's faith failed to reap a positive dividend.
Despite a gutty comeback from two goals down, the Indians' day was ruined by LaSalle as the Cadets captured a thrilling 4-3 victory when Adam Samiof's snap shot with 42.2 seconds remaining beat Glens Falls goalie Matt O'Connor.
Afterwards in the locker room, when talking about his confidence during the game, Palmer, one of only two Glens Falls seniors who play regularly, could only laugh and shrug.
"To lose it with 42 seconds left ... that's tough," Palmer said.
Said winger Marc Carpenter: "It's really tough to lose like this, but that's a good team we lost to. At least it was a close game."
Close is an understatement.
Trailing 3-1 late in the second period, Glens Falls finally woke up from its second-period nap to cut the deficit in half thanks to Tom Girard's goal with 2:16 left.
The Indians tied the game just 3:36 into the third period on Kyle Joly's slap shot from the left point.
But Glens Falls couldn't punch in the game-winner, not generating near enough scoring chances. The Indians were outshot 35-21 by LaSalle, including 25-11 in the final two periods.
O'Connor withstood the LaSalle barrage, stopping the first nine shots he faced in the final period. But it was one of the easier shots he faced that the senior couldn't stop.
With the rest of his teammates in a line change, LaSalle's Samiof picked up a loose puck off the boards near the right circle, took a few strides in and fired a snap shot that went over O'Connor's right shoulder and into the upper corner of the goal.
O'Connor said he had a clear view of the shot.
"I saw the puck come off his stick, and then I don't know what happened," said O'Connor, who was otherwise brilliant, thwarting chance after chance. "It just floated over my glove."
Said Glens Falls coach Don Miller: "It was a good, hard shot. It was the kind of shot I was trying to get our kids to take."
Glens Falls pulled O'Connor with 32.8 seconds left, and the face-off in the LaSalle end. The Indians stormed the net, but couldn't get a shot over fallen goalie Tys Bailey-Yavonditte.
"I thought we were going to get one," Palmer said. "We had the goalie down ... I thought it was there for us."
The game was there for the Indians' taking throughout, but Glens Falls couldn't take advantage, often choosing the dipsy-do route instead of the dump-and-chase route.
Playing their game in the opening period, Glens Falls controlled the action, firing 10 shots on goal, and taking a 1-0 lead at the 7:38 mark when defenseman Josh Tefft scored on a shot from the left point. The goal was made possible after the line of Ray Sipowicz, Tom Girard and Brian Herlihy did a great forechecking job. Glens Falls led 1-0 after the first period.
"We were really strong in the first period -- we had momentum, intensity, everything," Carpenter said. "But then in the second period, we lost everything."
Including the lead.
LaSalle struck three times in a span of 4:15, starting with the equalizer just 49 seconds into the second period. Less than two minutes later, on the power play, the Cadets' Kyle Reynolds waltzed down the left side untouched and chipped a shot past O'Connor for the lead.
Down a goal, Glens Falls was given a chance to get back in the game three minutes later. LaSalle's Brian Mohan was called for a double minor when he first tripped a Glens Falls player and, after being slashed back, jumped the Indians player for the additional two minutes.
The power play backfired on the Indians as LaSalle's Reynolds scored a short-handed goal at the 5:04 mark.
"When you score on special teams, you get the momentum," O'Connor said.
Glens Falls scored next on even strength, but it was still a momentum turner. At the 12:44 mark, a Sipowicz slap shot went wide, but the rebound off the boards went right to Girard, who deposited a shot into the empty net.
"We had to come into the locker room with something," Miller said. "We just can't give up a whole period in this kind of game. You don't want to come back with your mind not saying it's impossible. That goal made things possible."
Things were looking even more positive for the Indians early in the third.
The Herlihy line (three points for Girard, two apiece for Herlihy and Sipowicz) went back to work. Herlihy won a battle for the puck along the left boards, and fed cross ice to a wide open Jolly at the left point. With time, Jolly walked in and cranked a slapper off Bailey-Yavonditte and in. The game was tied with 11:24 remaining.
For Jolly, it was only his fourth goal this season.
"Without the great pass from Brian, it would have never happened," he said.
Of his rocket, Jolly quipped, "The goalie was ready for it, and he would have stopped it, but it had so much power in it, it trickled past him. I teed it up and it was a drive."
Down the stretch, Glens Falls was unable to create any more offense, and LaSalle wasn't much better until Samiof, who was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player, won it.
Still, the season for Glens Falls was a success. The Indians finished with a 17-10-1 record, and have almost everybody coming back.
"I'm upset but we played a great game so I can't be all that upset," Palmer said. "We knew it would come down to the end, and they got a nice shot off, and that was it."

Glens Falls 1  1  1 -- 3
LaSalle 0  3  1 -- 4
First Period: 1. Glens Falls, Josh Tefft (Ray Sipowicz, Tom Girard), 7:36. Penalties: Griffith, L (tripping), 3:21.
Second Period: 2. LaSalle, Eric Cassidy (Adam Samiof, Mike Barbera), :49; 3. LaSalle, Kyle Reynolds (Justin Burke), 2:44 (pp); 4. LaSalle, Kyle Reynolds (Mike Barbera), 5:04 (sh); 5. Glens Falls, Tom Girard (Ray Sipowicz, Brian Herlihy), 12:44 (pp). Penalties: Carpenter, GF (elbowing), 2:28; Mohan, L double-minor (tripping, roughing), 3:40; Reynolds, L (high-sticking), 11:28.
Third Period: 6. Glens Falls, Kyle Jolly (Brian Herlihy, Tom Girard), 3:36; 7. LaSalle, Adam Samiof (unassisted), 14:18. Penalties: Vogel, GF (high-sticking), 5:15; Powers, GF (roughing), 8:03; Barbera, L (roughing), 8:03; Palmer, GF (roughing), 8:55.
Shots on goal: Glens Falls 10-5-6--21, LaSalle 10-15-10---35.
Goalies: Glens Falls, O'Connor 10-13-9--31; LaSalle, Dominelli 9-4-x--13; Bailey-Yavonditte, x-x-5--5.
Power play opportunities: Glens Falls 1 for 3, LaSalle 1 for 3.

Monday, March 13, 2000

The Saratogian, Saratoga Springs, NY

Monday, March 13, 2000

Saratoga Springs High School ice hockey teammates Aaron Cowieson, left, Adam Finkin, center, and Kyle Reddon watch as Ithica recieves the championship award Sunday after Saratoga's Division One playoff loss.

Streaks fall to Li'l Red

By WARREN ALBER

UTICA -- The Saratoga Springs High School ice hockey team's improbable run to a second-straight state championship came quickly to an end Sunday afternoon in the NYSPHSAA final at the Utica Memorial Auditorium.

In a 46-second span three minutes into the game, Ithaca junior Matt Caren scored three times on consecutive shots, propelling the Li'l Red past the Blue Streaks, 4-0, Ithaca's third New York State Public High School Athletic Association championship in five trips to the final.

'We have not gotten blitzed like that all year,' Saratoga goaltender Mark Paine said. 'They were all over us.'

In a rematch of the 1999 final -- won by Saratoga, 3-0 -- Ithaca came out flying, taking four shots at Paine in the game's first 40 seconds.

Caren, who took four of his team's first eight shots, opened the flood gates at 3:11 when he backhanded Brett Huckle's centering pass under Paine.

Eleven seconds later, Huckle picked up a dump-in in the left circle and centered to Caren crashing the net down the slot. Caren redirected the pass past Paine for a 2-0 lead.

The Blue Streaks looked to have righted themselves immediately after that, working the puck into the Li'l Red zone.

But before Saratoga could muster a shot, Caren stripped Mike Paine of the puck, skated down the left wing through center ice, beat defenseman Aaron Cowieson around the corner and cut across the goal mouth, where he waited for Mark Paine to commit to a shot before sliding the puck inside the right post.

'They were flying,' Mark Paine said. 'After those first two goals, my head was spinning. I can't even remember the third goal. When you get down quick like that, you just don't want to get embarrassed. A game like that could easily have ended up 12-0, but we didn't want that.

'We knew it would be tough to get back into it, because they have such a solid team,' the goaltender said. 'They remembered last year and they really wanted us this year. They are a lot like we were. Nothing was going to stop them.

'We were rattled, but we were able to gain some confidence and create some opportunities later in the game,' Mark Paine said. 'But down 3-0? Getting one goal against them is tough. Getting two is not likely. And three? They weren't going to let that happen.'

Caren's third goal came on Ithaca's eighth shot, and the Li'l Red (26-3) rang up seven more, going to the first intermission with a 15-4 edge in shots and their 3-0 lead.

From there, Saratoga (21-5-2) was able to generate some scoring chances -- the best by Mike Paine, who hit the right post with 1:16 to play -- and control bits and pieces of the play over the final two periods, but the Blue Streaks couldn't get through the Li'l Red's air-tight defense.

The only goal Ithaca would get in the final 41 minutes of the game came 4:22 into the second, when Chris Uber's centering pass from behind the net hit Saratoga's Adam Finkin and went into the net.

'That was a heckuva team that beat us,' Saratoga coach Bob Santamoor said. 'I've seen it happen before where three quick goals: bang, bang, bang; and a team gets deflated. But in the third we showed signs of a comeback. We had our chances.'

Ithaca310-- 4

Saratoga Springs000-- 0

First period-- 1, Ith, Caren (Huckle, Grossman), 3:11. 2, Ith, Caren (Huckle), 3:22. 3, Ith, Caren (Grossman), 3:57. Penalties-- None.

Second period-- 4, Ith, Uber, 4:22. Penalties-- Huckle, Ith (checking from behind), 1:17; Brown, Ith (slashing), 8:23; Mi.Paine, SS (roughing), 8:23; Fennessey, SS (hitting after the whistle), 11:02.

Third period-- None. Penalty-- Field, Ith (holding), 12:40.

Shots on goal-- Ithaca 15-8-4 27. Saratoga Springs 4-9-6 19. Goalies-- Ithaca, Wrisley (19 shots-19 saves). Saratoga Springs, Ma.Paine (27-23). Power-play opportunities-- Ithaca 0 for 1. Saratoga Springs 0 for 2.

The Albany Times-Union
By ALAN HART , Staff writer
First published: Sunday, March 12, 2000

Saratoga 4 Massena 2

UTICA -- On Friday morning, Saratoga senior forward Mike Santamoor was ill and didn't want to get out of bed. On Saturday afternoon, Santamoor was healthier and energized and didn't want to come off the ice.

Santamoor, son of Saratoga hockey coach Bob Santamoor, assisted on Saratoga's first goal and scored the second to help the defending state Division I champion Blue Streaks dismantle Massena, 4-2. Saratoga advanced to today's 3:30 p.m. championship game against Section III (Central New York) champion Ithaca.

Before the Saratoga-Ithaca game, Glens Falls (18-9-1) and La Salle Institute (20-5-2) meet in an all-Section II game for the state Division II title at 12:30.

Saratoga (21-4-2) lost to Ithaca (25-3) in the only regular-season meeting between the teams Jan. 21, 4-1. Ithaca earned its berth in the final by beating Seton Catholic of Plattsburgh in the first half of the doubleheader, 4-1.

Bob Santamoor was as surprised as anyone that his son played at all, let alone exceedingly well. The younger Santamoor, who skates on the high-powered first line that includes Section II scoring leader Mike Paine and Tim Rehm, did not miss any of his line's shifts.

"Mike's been sick all week with something,'' Bob Santamoor said. "He was tested for strep and mononucleosis, but the tests came back negative. All I can tell you is that he has a throat that looks like Babe Ruth's.''

The younger Santamoor was ready when the puck was dropped.

After he assisted on Rehm's goal in the first period, Santamoor gave Saratoga a 2-0 lead at 1:10 of the middle period with a neat backhander from close range.

"Early yesterday morning I couldn't stand up to get out of bed,'' the winger said, "but by last night I guess the antibiotics really started to kick in, because I felt a lot better. I knew then I was going to play.''

Massena (19-7-2), which split two regular-season games with the Streaks, got within 2-1 on Matt Robideau's power-play goal at 4:48. Saratoga went up 3-1 just before the period ended -- with some help from the Red Raiders.

In the period's last minute, play was stopped for an offsides, but Massena argued successfully with officials that the clock had continued to run after the whistle. Five seconds were put back, and Chad Cummings got Saratoga's decisive third goal -- with 5.2 seconds showing in the period.

Massena made it 3-2 on Nathan Witkop's goal at 6:53 of the third period. Saratoga, trying desperately to hang on, took only two shots on goal the entire 15 minutes. One of them, an empty-net goal by Mike Paine with five seconds left, sealed the Streaks' berth into a second straight state title game.

Except for the Witkop goal, goalie Mark Paine, Mike Paine's twin brother, kept the Red Raiders off the board in the tense final period despite relentless pressure.

The Post-Star, Glens Falls, NY

Sunday, March 12, 2000

The Record, Troy, NY
Sunday, March 12, 2000

La Salle, Glens Falls no strangers to success

By Chris Fitz Gerald

TROY -- If La Salle Institute thought it had a rough game in the state hockey semifinals, just wait until today's encounter.

The Cadets survived a physical encounter on Friday and emerged with a 2-1 victory over Plattsburgh of Section VII.

Now get ready for Round Two. Wait, make that Round Four.

La Salle (20-5-2) skates against rival Glens Falls (18-9-1) for the Division II state championship 12:30 p.m. today at the Utica Memorial Auditorium.

Today's final will be the fourth time the two teams meet this season. And if the previous three matches are any indication, this meeting figures to be quite a donnybrook.

"Naturally, Glens Falls is physical with any team, just like we are," La Salle senior winger Andrew Carnevale said. "(Today) I think we'll try to play a little more hockey because there's a little more riding on this game."

Both the Cadets and Indians are not shy about playing a bruising style of hockey. Case in point, La Salle's 3-1 victory over Glens Falls in the Section II final on Feb. 26 when both teams combined for 19 penalties.

"I think both teams will come out and just play hockey in the first period," Carnevale said. "By the second and third periods, we'll realize who we're playing against and it's going to get real physical. It's become a big rivalry between Glens Falls and La Salle."

Both teams have a history of success at the state level.

Glens Falls, which qualified for the tournament this year as an at-large team, won the state title in 1990 and 1991.

"It's exciting, because this is something that has never been done before, having a team make it through as an at-large," Glens Falls coach Don Miller said. "Having two Section II teams in the final has created a buzz at the Utica Auditorium. And with Saratoga winning, there's actually three teams in the final four."

Saratoga (21-4-2), a 4-2 winner over Masenna on Saturday, plays Ithaca for the Division I championship. The Blue Streaks defeated the Little Red last year to take the title.

La Salle has reached the state final four times. Most recently, the Cadets were outgunned by Clinton, 6-5 in 1996.

"We've got a lot of respect for Glens Falls and they're a real good team," La Salle coach Tim Flanigan said. "After we beat them in the section

final, I told my team that I thought we would face them again in the state tournament final. We're not surprised one bit that Glens Falls is there.

"This is something we've looked forward to and have prepared for."

The Cadets have reached New York State Public High School Athletic Association's version of "The Frozen Four" in three of Flanigan's five seasons as coach.

"At the beginning of the year, we set out and this team really believed we could win the state championship," Flanigan said. "In years past, we thought it would be great if we just got to Utica. This year, we were really convinced we could get to Utica and win the state championship."

La Salle committed six penalties against Plattsburgh and faced five shorthanded situations, but killed off each opportunity by the Hornets.

"I think we only took one stupid penalty," Flanigan said. "We have to keep playing disciplined hockey."

The Indians won the first meeting over La Salle, 7-3 on Dec. 17.

"It was kind of weird how he (Flanigan) predicted who we would face," Carnevale said. "We pretty much have to drop what has happened in the previous games. It's a new game and just because we've beaten them the last two times, doesn't mean we're going to roll over them again."

The Cadets stormed back with a 2-0 victory on Jan. 28 to take control of the Capital District High School Hockey League's Independent Division.

Brian Mohan, Mike Barbera and Eric Cassidy each scored as the Cadets prevailed in the Section II championship game.

"The first time they jumped on us early, and from our perspective anything and everything that could of gone wrong did," Flanigan said. "Since then we've done a better job of not allowing a lot of goals against them and limiting their scoring opportunities.

"We had good control and looks on our power play. And we've held our composure as far as penalties. This is what we need to continue to do."

Glens Falls has plenty of offensive firepower as well and capped by Tom Girard's score, tallied three goals in the first period en route to a 3-2 win over perennial state power Salmon River of Section X on Friday night.

"We're physical and I think we like to play the body more than they do," Flanigan said. "One of the keys is for our defense to not let their forwards get behind us in our zone. Once Glens Falls' forwards get loose, they really start taking off.

"The key is really nothing different than against other teams, we can't allow them any 2-on-1's and we have to play solid defense as a unit."

The Saratogian, Saratoga Springs, NY

Sat. Mar. 11, 2000

Blue Streaks need to dig deep

By WARREN ALBER

SARATOGA SPRINGS -- The depth of the Saratoga Springs High School ice hockey team has been called into question all season.

That depth may get its stiffest test today.

The Blue Streaks have ridden the offensive fortunes of Mike Paine, Mike Santamoor and Tim Rehm -- their top line -- and the goaltending of Mark Paine to their third straight state final four.

The consensus has been if an opponent can stop Saratoga's No. 1 line, the defending New York State Public High School Athletic Association champion Blue Streaks can be defeated.

For the Massena Red Raiders, Saratoga's opponent in this afternoon's state Division I semifinal at the Utica War Memorial (game time is 2:30), the job may have been made easier with Santamoor slowed by a bout with the flu.

'Right now,' coach/dad Bob Santamoor said, 'I'm planning on not having him. Hopefully, he comes around.'

In his stead, the Saratoga coach will move third-line winger Brian Benner into the hole on the first line. On the power play, defenseman Eric Meisner will take the wing, with Andrew Usas returning to the point.

'To not have Mike, it's going to hurt,' coach Santamoor said. 'It's going to hurt us physically because Massena plays physical hockey and Mike is our most physical player. But, hey, that's hockey. You've got to adjust.'

The Blue Streaks (20-4-2) have had more going for them than just Mike Paine, Mike Santamoor and Rehm.

There is goaltender Mark Paine, the 1999 first team all-state selection and state tournament MVP who has won his last six starts, allowing only four goals on 114 shots (a .965 save percentage).

And there is Capital District High School Hockey League Suburban Council First Team All-Star defenseman Aaron Cowieson, who has been the backbone of the defensive corps all season.

Still, it has been the backs of the No. 1 line that have carried the Streaks back to the state final four.

Even before the illness, coach Santamoor said if his team is to complete its repeat, it needs something more from everyone.

'I am not disappointed with the play of my second and third lines,' Santamoor said. 'They have been working hard and creating chances. Now I need them to step up to the plate and get a hit.'

During Saratoga's current seven-game winning streak, the team has gotten six of its 30 goals from its second and third lines, and three from defensemen while skating with the first line. By comparison, Tim Rehm alone has scored 10 times over the same span.

Saratoga's No. 1 line has accounted for 58 percent of the team's goals all year. The remaining 12 forwards have scored 34 percent and defensemen have notched 8 percent.

'We've been working on trying to get more going,' said Adam Finkin, who has nine goals this season while centering the No. 2 line with Chad Cummings and Chris Coppernoll. 'Our first line is probably the best line in the state, but even so, you can't win the whole thing with just them. We have to put the puck in the net, too.'

With Benner (3 goals, 4 assists) moving up to the first line, Patrick Kauth and Paul Fennessey will flank Luis Oles on the third line.

'Sure it's frustrating not scoring,' Benner said. 'But there is not much we can do about it. We've been working hard, our second and third lines, and I think we can come up with something big to help us win this weekend.'

The Record, Troy, NY
Saturday, March 11, 2000

Cadets one win from title

By Chris Fitz Gerald

UTICA -- If La Salle Institute had pregame jitters prior to Friday's state hockey semifinal, it certainly must have left them behind in Troy.

The Cadets executed a nearly flawless game in the first period and, as it turned out, would need all of the poise they could muster in the final minutes. With their composure in the final two periods, they're now within a victory of their first state championship.

Junior defenseman Justin Burke scored a power-play goal, then Andrew Carnevale followed with a shorthanded tally in the opening period and La Salle went on to defeat Plattsburgh 2-1 in a New York State Public High School Athletic Association state semifinal game at the Utica Memorial Auditorium.

The Cadets (20-5-2) advance to play rival Glens Falls (18-9-1) in the Division II final at 12:30 p.m. on Sunday in the same venue. The Section VII-champion Hornets finish at 19-9-1.

Senior goaltender Matt Dominelli made 17 saves, including 11 in the third period to earn the win for La Salle, which last reached the championship round in 1996.

"They're a good team and we did a good job to get out to a 2-0 lead against them," Dominelli said. "But I don't think we kept our composure as well. The last five minutes or so were very nerve racking."

After Burke and Carnevale tallied in the first period and following a scoreless second, the Hornets climbed back into the game on freshman forward Ian Stanton's goal 1:45 into the third period. Stanton took a pass from senior forward Josh McMillan and lifted the puck over an outstretched Dominelli to trim La Salle's lead to 2-1.

"We saw them play earlier in the year, so we had a pretty good idea what to expect," said Plattsburgh coach Scott Waite, a former Cohoes resident who was an assistant coach at Christian Brothers Academy before returning to his native North Country four seasons ago. "We know they're physical and they're a talented team. In the third period, we came out and started playing with the intensity we had shown in the first 7 1/2 minutes of the game. Their goalie just played a great game against us."

Then the real suspense began. Stanton's goal ignited Plattsburgh, which had managed only six shots the first two periods, then doubled their output in the third.

Dominelli made a key save on junior forward Ryan Meron's slapshot with 8:30 to play. Then the Hornets, who won in overtime in their three previous playoff wins, nearly forced an extra session when junior forward Colby Graves skated around the La Salle net. Graves attempted to slip a shot past Dominelli, but the senior knocked away a point-blank shot with 1:32 remaining in regulation.

"I saw the guy all the way and I knew he was coming around the net like that," Dominelli said. "So I just let him shoot the puck right to me. It was just a big relief to get out of this game with the win."

Along with their two special teams goals, the Cadets also foiled four power-play chances in the final two periods, including 43 seconds of a 4-on-3 chance for Plattsburgh with three minutes to play.

"That was the difference," La Salle coach Tim Flanigan said. "They had the power-play advantage by a lot. And our penalty killing really knocked them off their feet and we kept pressuring them before they would get the puck set up. And our winning goal was shorthanded."

La Salle has now yielded only one goal in its last five periods of play. The Cadets rallied from a two-goal first period deficit to stymie Fulton 3-2 last Saturday in the regional finals.

"We've been doing this all year long and we've played very strong in front of our net," Flanigan said. "When we get opportunities to score, we score. We get good goaltending and holding on to a lead in the last five minutes is nothing new to us."

La Salle cashed in with two goals in the first period.

With Stanton in the penalty box for holding, senior defenseman Adam Samiof fired a shot on Malcomb, who dropped down to make the save. Burke was there for the rebound and lifted a shot over the goaltender's stick side for a 1-0 advantage with 6:16 remaining in the first period. The goal is just Burke's sixth of the season.

"We knew we wanted to come out strong and we didn't want to get behind by two goals like we did last week against Fulton," Burke said. "We had a nice power play goal and then Andy's shorthanded goal really sent us on our way."

Then 2:03 later, Carnevalle produced the eventual game-winning goal with teammate Andrew Kazajian off for tripping. Carnevale stripped the puck from a defender, moved in and slipped the puck between Malcomb's pads.

"We were a little bit sluggish in the first period, but we scored the first goal," Carnevale said. "It made us forget all our pregame jitters and we just went out and played our game. We didn't come in thinking we were going to blow anybody out, but we had enough to win and that's what's important."

In the other semifinal, sophomore forward Tom Girard scored with 1:19 left in the first period to lift Glens Falls past Salmom River of Section X, 3-2. Senior Matt O'Connor made 28 saves for the Indians, who won the Division II state title in 1998.

Glens Falls was beaten by the Cadets, 4-2 in the Section II final on Feb. 28, but earned an at-large bid to the state tournament. The Shamrocks finish at 20-5-2.

LA SALLE 2, PLATTSBURGH 1

Plattsburgh 0 0 1-- 1

La Salle 2 0 0 -- 2

First Period: Scoring --- 1, LSI, Justin Burke (Adam Samiof, Brian Mohan), 8:44 (pp); 2, LSI, Andrew Carnevale (unassisted), 11:43 (pp). Penalties --- P-Ian Stanton (holding), 7:35; L-Andrew Kazanjian (tripping), 10:33.

Second Period: Scoring --- None. Penalties --- L-Kennally (tripping), 6:53; L-K.Reynolds (roughing), 9:36; L-Cassidy (tripping), 14:53.

Third Period: Scoring --- 3, P, Ian Stanton (Josh McMillan), 1:45.Penalties --- P-Ryan Meron (holding), 7:45; L-Mike Barbera (roughing), 11:32; P-Frank Padula (roughing), 11:32; L-Mohan (holding), 12:20.

Shots on goal: Plattsburgh 3-3-12--18; La Salle 7-4-9--20.

Power-play opportunities: Plattsburgh 0-for-5; La Salle 1-for-2.

Goalies: Plattsburgh, Jon Malcomb (20 shots-18 saves); La Salle, Matt Dominelli (18 shots-17 saves).

GLENS FALLS 3, SALMON RIVER 2

Glens Falls 3 0 0 -- 3

Salmon River 2 0 0 -- 2

First Period: Scoring -- 1, SR, Carey Terrance (Evan Cree), 2:11 (sh); 2, GF, Kevin Vogel (Tim Powers, Tom Girard), 7:14; 3, GF, T.J. Palmer (Marc Carpenter), 9:41; 4, SR, Murray Lauzon (Cree, Terrance), 12:56; 5, GF, Girard (Brian Herlihy, Ray Sipowicz), 13:41. Penalties --- SR-Ryan Chatland (cross checking), 2:56; GF-John Naylor (tripping), 7:34.

Second Period: Scoring -- None. Penalties --- GF-Josh Tefft (hitting from behind), 2:00; GF-Sipowicz (hitting from behind), 5:06; SR-Jon Connors (holding), 6:56; GF-Girard (slashing), 14:04.

Third Period: Scoring -- None. Penalties --- SR-Jess Thompson (roughing), 14:24; GF-Powers (roughing), 14:24.

Power-play opportunities: Glens Falls 0-for-2; Salmon River 0-for-4.

Shots on goal: Salmon River 11-10-9-30. Glens Falls 16-3-3-19.

Goalies: Salmon River, Matt Jones (19 shots-16 saves); Glens Falls, Matt O'Connor (30 shots-28 saves).

The Post-Star, Glens Falls, NY
Saturday, March 11, 2000

Rob Barendse photo

Glens Falls players celebrate an early first-period goal
during Friday's state semifinal victory Salmon River in
Utica.

On to the finals

Glens Falls beats Salmon River to earn shot at La Salle

State - Ice Hockey

By Ryan O'Halloran, Sports Writer

UTICA -- If there was any doubt the Glens Falls hockey team knew how to play with a lead and perform well in a defensive posture, those fears were emphatically erased Friday night.
In their Section II State Semifinal game at the Utica Memorial Auditorium, the Indians defeated Salmon River 3-2, holding the one-goal advantage for the final 31 minutes, 19 seconds of the game.
Tom Girard scored the winner with 1:19 left in the first period.
From there, Glens Falls recorded three shots on goal in the second and three more in the third.
But it didn't matter. The Glens Falls defenseman stopped giving away the puck in their own end, and goalie Matt O'Connor, after giving up a soft goal two minutes into the game, stopped 28 shots, including 19 in the final two periods.
Yes, the Indians can play defense.
And yes, the Indians are one game away from their first state title since 1991. Glens Falls faces fellow Section II school LaSalle Sunday at 12:30 p.m. LaSalle defeated Plattsburgh 2-1 in the other semifinal.
"We just have to keep it going -- hold nothing back and play hard," O'Connor said. "Just play Glens Falls Indians hockey."
Usually, "Glens Falls Indians hockey," is offense, offense and more offense.
Against Salmon River, though, the Indians showed another side of their game. But it wasn't until the final two periods.
In the first period, it was business as usual for the Indians, who swarmed on Salmon River, firing 13 shots on goal.
From the opening faceoff, Glens Falls did the attacking, but at the 2:15 mark, it was the Shamrocks who took a 1-0 lead on their first shot. After a Glens Falls turnover in the right circle, Salmon River's Evan Cree fired a snap shot past O'Connor.
"After the first one, I was worried," coach Don Miller said. "But then he snapped out of it. Sometimes, you need those kinds of wake-up calls."
O'Connor didn't blame the goal on opening-period jitters.
"I was more excited than anything," he said. "But their first shot goes in, and it kind of popped my balloon, and maybe I got more focused."
Glens Falls didn't fret about the early deficit, senior T.J. Palmer said.
"We knew we were taking it to them -- the puck was always in their zone," Palmer said. "We knew we would get a couple soon."
Glens Falls got a couple sooner rather than later.
At the 7:11 mark of the first, Glens Falls tied it on a goal from an unlikely source -- defenseman Kevin Vogel scored only his fifth goal of the season on a slap shot from the right point.
Less than three minutes later, at the 9:41 mark, the Indians took a 2-1 lead on Palmer's 20th goal. Palmer pounced on a rebound after Salmon River goalie Matt Jones stopped Marc Carpenter.
"It's what we did all day in practice (Thursday)," Palmer said. "We talked a lot about shooting and getting the rebound."
The wild first period continued at the 12:56 mark when Salmon River's Carey Terrance scored on a back-hander over O'Connor.
Glens Falls took the lead for good at the 13:41 mark on a pretty play between Tom Girard and Brian Herlihy. Herlihy gained possession, and with his back to the goal, fed a streaking Girard, who beat Jones from the top of the crease.
Jones entered the game having stopped 90 of the last 92 shots he had faced.
But, Miller said, "I don't think he's seen this kind of offense in a while. We were worried about him because he came in with a big reputation of being this, this and this. But when we got the first one, we knew were going to keep on scoring."
Jones didn't see a lot of the Glens Falls' offense in the final two periods -- only six total shots over the final 30 minutes.
But the Indians made Girard's goal stand up because of steady work in their own end, a stout penalty kill (Salmon River was 0 for 4 on the power play) and the play of O'Connor.
"That's the best I've ever seen him play," said fellow senior Palmer. "I think the first goal really woke up him because he usually doesn't give up those kids of goals."
Strategically, Miller said, the Indians adjustments were simple -- treat the boards and glass has your friend.
"We put three clearing passes right on their sticks in the first period and it almost cost us," Miller said. "We starting using the boards instead of the middle to clear the puck and that made things tougher for them."
If there was a rebound or loose puck, Glens Falls would usually win the battle because of its superior speed. In the final period, O'Connor had to make only one difficult stop -- a kick save with 6:25 left. With 1:16 remaining, Salmon River's Ted Cook back-handed a shot over the goal.
"We were a little nervous in the third," Palmer said.
The Indians didn't show it. As a result, they play for the state title Sunday. LaSalle leads the season series 2-1.
"We have to put it on the line just like we did tonight," O'Connor said. "We got in with the at-large (bid) so we feel lucky to be here."

Glens Falls 3  0  0 -- 3
Salmon River 2  0  0 -- 0
First Period: 1. Salmon River, Cree (Terrance), 2:15; 2. Glens Falls, Vogel (Powers, Girard), 7:11; 3. Glens Falls, Palmer (Carpenter), 9:41; 4. Salmon River, Lauzon (Terrance, Cree), 12:56; 5. Glens Falls, Girard (Herlihy, Sipowicz). Penalties: Chatland, SL (cross-checking), 2:56; Carpenter, GF (tripping), 7:34.
Second Period: No scoring. Penalties: J. Tefft, GF (checking from behind), 2:00; Sipowicz, GF (checking from behind), 5:06; Connors, SL (holding), 6:56; Girard, GF (slashing), 14:04.
Third Period: No scoring. Penalties: Kane, SL (roughing), 14:24; T. Powers (roughing), 14:24.
Goalies: Salmon River, Jones 10-3-3--16. Glens Falls, O'Connor 9-10-9--28.
Shots on goal: Salmon River -- 11-10-9--30. Glens Falls -- 13-3-3--19.
Power play opportunities: Salmon River -- 0 for 4, Glens Falls 0 for 2.

The Saratogian, Saratoga Springs, NY

Blue Streaks know how to get it done

The Record, Troy, NY
Friday, March 10, 2000

Offense drives Indians

 Rob Barendse Photo
Glens Falls' T.J. Palmer takes a shot during a game against Saratoga Jan. 5.  Palmer is one of six players that make up the Indians interchangeable forward lines.  With 182 points divided among the half-dozen players, Glens Falls is almost always a threat to score.

By Ryan O'Halloran, Sports Writer

The Post-Star, Glens Falls, NY

Friday, March 10, 2000

Miller compares squad with titlists

By Ryan O'Halloran, Sports Writer

Nine years ago, the Glens Falls High School hockey team won its second straight state hockey crown.
Tonight, the Indians return to the Division II Final Four for the first time since then, facing Salmon River at 8 p.m. in the Utica Memorial Auditorium.
Don Miller, in his 15th season as coach, led the 1989-90 and 1990-91 teams to the title. Miller said there aren't that many comparisions between those two teams and his current team.
"The two championship teams were both really good teams," Miller said. "They both had more experience than this team. The first team had 13 seniors, and the next year, we had a lot of seniors step up again.
"But all three teams are gritty."
Because of Glens Falls' youth -- on its top three forward lines, top four defensemen and starting goalie, the Indians have only two seniors -- Miller wasn't sure what to expect of this season.
"We lost three seniors, and one junior who went to play juniors," he said. "You never really know what you're going to get until you actually drop the puck in November."
What Miller got was veteran-like play from seven juniors and five sophomores.
Even though this group of Glens Falls hockey players was in the early stages of elementary school in 1990-91, they're well aware of the Indians history. Matt Carpenter, the older brother of current Glens Falls junior winger Marc Carpenter, was captain of the 1991 title team.
Marc Carpenter is one of the Indians' captains this season.
"He's been on my case, telling me we have to get our intensity up," Marc said before practice Wednesday. "He told us there shouldn't be any messing around this week in practice."
If Marc became the second Carpenter captain to win the state title, he said, "It would mean a lot to me. I grew up watching those guys play so it would be really special to say I helped win a state title, too."

Making most of chance
Glens Falls back-doored into the postseason and as Miller said, "We're making the most of our opportunity."
In the state hockey tournament, an at-large bid rotates around to the different sections.
This year, the at-large bid went to Section II. LaSalle won the section title Feb. 26 over Glens Falls, 3-1. But the Indians knew they were already in the tournament because they had beaten South Glens Falls.
"It's worked out for us," Miller said. "We've taken advantage of the at-large bid."
Even though they were assured of moving on in the playoffs, players say the LaSalle loss was a wake-up call.
"Basically, it was a gut check," Carpenter said.
"A really big gutcheck," senior T.J. Palmer said.
LaSalle plays in the other semifinal game against Plattsburgh. LaSalle is 2-1 against Glens Falls this season.

Sports writer Ryan O'Halloran may be reached at ohalloran@poststar.com

The Record, Troy, NY

Thursday, March 9, 2000

J.S. Carras/The Record 
La Salle Institute goalies Matt Dominelli, left, and Tys Bailey-Yavonditte give opponents very little to shoot at this season. Dominelli led the Cadets with 12 victories, while Bailey-Yavonditte led the Capital District Hockey League in goals-aganist average, with a 1.24. The duo helped the Cadets reach the state semifinals for the second straight season. They meet Section VII-champion Plattsburgh on Friday in Utica

La Salle has two goalies that stifle opponents

By Chris Fitz Gerald

TROY -- Tys Bailey-Yavonditte has waited patiently this season for his chance to tend goal, knowing he must be ready for any scenario.

No practice or team meeting could have fully prepared the sophomore for the challenge he faced on Saturday night, especially given the circumstances.

Bailey-Yavonditte truly received a jarring return to the ice.

Entering the second period for La Salle Institute in goal in place of senior starter Matt Dominelli, Bailey-Yavonditte made his first save with his mask as a shot from a Fulton forward deflected off the sophomore's helmet.

Even though he was a little dazed, the sophomore quickly became even more focused after the auspicious beginning.

Bailey-Yavonditte went on to make 16 more saves and didn't allow a goal as the Cadets rallied past Fulton, 3-2 to achieve its second straight state Final Four appearance.

La Salle (19-5-2) meets Section VII champion Plattsburgh (19-8-1) in a Division II state semifinal game at 5:30 p.m. on Friday at the Utica War Memorial.

"It got my mind totally focused," said Bailey-Yavonditte, who is in his first season at the varsity level. "When I get hit in the head, it usually gets me ready. So when it happened this time, it finished off my warmup and I was ready to play."

The Cadets skate into Utica with what has proven to be a valuable commodity -- two strong goaltenders.

"It's a luxury to have two good goalies," junior defenseman Justin Burke said. "We have confidence in both of them."

"It's great to have two goalies that can win big games," La Salle coach Tim Flanigan said.

Bailey-Yavonditte took over for Dominelli, after the senior goalie had yielded two goals in the opening period against Fulton.

"I think I've been playing well and I've been seeing the puck pretty well," said Dominelli, who has started the majority of La Salle's games this year and has recorded a 12-5 mark, including a 1.78 goals against average. "Having Tys on the team has helped a lot, and it's taken a lot of the pressure off me and I don't have the whole team on my back."

Bailey-Yavonditte's numbers are impressive in his first season at the varsity level. He's 7-0 and led the Capital District High School Hockey League in goals against average with 1.24, which he lowered to 1.13 with the two scoreless periods on Saturday.

"Tys likes to take risks and get right in the middle of things," Dominelli said. "We're like total opposites. I like to stay more conservative in the goal. He likes to play the puck a lot and I'm not as fond of playing the puck and only do it when I have to."

Dominelli has yielded 29 goals in 739 minutes of ice time this season, and Bailey-Yavonditte has given up nine in 357 minutes.

"It's been great because Matt Dominelli has been our workhorse and our star goalie for the past three seasons," Flanigan said. "And he's done an outstanding job (including) last season, when we beat Saranac Lake last year (to reach the state semifinals.) But, it's nice to have somebody else to turn to. It gives our team a lot of confidence."

Bailey-Yavonditte has been a study in readiness and has prepared himself to be called on at any time. Bailey-Yavonditte hadn't played in the Cadets' three previous games, and his last appearance dates to well over a month ago in a 3-2 victory over Saratoga on Jan. 29.

"Tys hasn't been in much, but we practice every day," Dominelli said. "So it's not like he hasn't been in goal. We both know what's going on and we're both ready before each game.

"We both have no idea who's starting before each game, so we're both mentally prepared."

Last year, Dominelli backstopped La Salle to the state tournament as a junior. Now with Bailey-Yavonditte on board, the responsibility doesn't always fall on Dominelli's shoulders.

"I love it," Dominelli said of La Salle's goalie situation. "You still have to go in focused, but you know even if you don't have your best game, you know the game isn't over."

In the first meeting of the season against Saratoga, Bailey-Yavonditte played in goal for the first two periods. With the Cadets leading 3-1, Dominelli replaced Bailey-Yavonditte and held off the Blue Streaks in a 3-2 triumph.

Against Fulton, Bailey-Yavonditte made 13 saves in the final period to preserve the victory.

"Right off the faceoff in the second period, we started playing better," Bailey-Yavonditte said. "I knew I had to be ready and I couldn't wait to get out there. And I didn't have to make any big saves. That's what's good about this year, we have such a good team back there that all of my saves have been easy saves and I haven't had too many tough ones."

Dominelli clearly remembers his performance in states last year.

The Cadets led in the third period, only to fall, 5-3 to Aquinas Institute of Rochester which went on to claim its second straight state crown.

Now with another years' experience and La Salle's goalie tandem, the Cadets look forward to this weekend with plenty of confidence.

"I don't think I played too hot last year, but it's all in the past," Dominelli said. "I'm not nervous going into the state tournament. Just being there last year, I know what to expect."

The Post-Star, Glens Falls, NY

Sunday, March 5, 2000

G.F. hockey earns trip to state meet

Staff report

SUFFERN -- The Glens Falls Indians are going back to Utica.
Brian Herlihy recorded a hat trick as the Indians scored a 5-2 victory over Monroe-Woodbury Saturday in a Division II state regional ice hockey game. The win sends Glens Falls to the state tournament this coming weekend at Utica Memorial Auditorium.
Glens Falls won back-to-back state titles in Utica in 1989 and 1990.
The Indians lost the Section II championship game to La Salle a week ago, but received an at-large bid for state regionals. They won a game at the Glens Falls Recreation Center earlier in the week to qualify for Saturday's state quarterfinal.
Glens Falls rolled out to a 4-0 lead Saturday before Monroe-Woodbury got on the scoreboard. The Indians won the game playing with just three defensemen -- Kevin Vogel, Tim Powers and Josh Tefft.
The Indians outshot Monroe-Woodbury by a wide margin, 30-13. Sean Powers, making his first start in goal in several games, made 11 stops in goal to pick up the victory.
Herlihy scored the only goal of the first period just 1:38 into the game with assists from Tom Girard and Ray Sipowicz. The game stayed at 1-0 until the 11:19 mark of the second period, when the Indians scored three times on a span of less than three minutes.
Sipowicz scored on the rebound of Girard's hard shot, pushing the puck through the pads of the fallen Monroe-Woodbury goaltender. Palmer picked up a rebound in front of the Monroe-Woodbury goal a few moments later and rifled it home for a 3-0 lead.
Before the period ended, Herlihy had gone back to work on his hat trick. His second goal came on a quick-release shot that went high. And his third goal, which came in the third period, was on a breakaway off a steal.
"He was phenomenal,'' said Don Miller, the Indians' veteran coach.
Glens Falls will play Friday in Utica at 7:30 p.m. against the winner of the Salmon River-Aquinas Institute matchup that was played Saturday night.

Glens Falls (17-8-1) 1    3    1  --  5
Monroe-Woodbury 0    0    2  --  2
First period -- 1, Glens Falls, Brian Herlihy (Tom Girard, Ray Sipowicz), 1:38.
Second period -- 2, Glens Falls, Ray Sipowicz (Tom Girard), 11:19. 3, Glens Falls, T.J. Palmer (Marc Carpenter, Tim Powers), 13:46. 4, Glens Falls, Brian Herlihy, 14:18.
Third period -- 5, Monroe-Woodbury, Josh Goodman, 3:56. 6, Monroe-Woodbury, Ryan McCormick (Chris Williams), 4:08. 7, Glens Falls, Brian Herlihy, 9:28.
Shots on goal -- Glens Falls 10-13-7--30, Monroe-Woodbury 3-6-4--13.
Goalies -- Monroe-Woodbury, Erik Batewell 9-10-6--25; Glens Falls, Sean Powers 3-6-2-11.

The Record, Troy, NY

Sat, Mar. 4, 2000

Return of Woll helping Plainsmen in playoffs

By Chris Fitz Gerald

CLIFTON PARK -- As only an eighth-grader, Jason Woll made an immediate impact as a lanky defenseman for Shenendehowa High's hockey team.

After two years away on a select team, Woll made his return to the Plainsmen this season with a vengeance.

His reunion with Shenendehowa's program, couldn't have come at a more opportune time.

Possessing a much stockier frame along with sharper skills, Woll has helped guide the Plainsmen to within a victory of the state final four.

Shenendehowa (24-3-1) plays at Section III champion Ithaca High (23-3) at 1 p.m. today with a berth in the state Division I semifinals at stake.

Also today, La Salle Institute (18-5-2) hosts Fulton (20-7) of Section III in a Division II regional at 9 p.m. at Hudson Valley Community College.

"That was a tough loss," Woll said of a 2-1 defeat to rival Shenendehowa in the Section II final last Saturday. "That loss kind of threw us back a little because we had to play that extra game, but now after a week of great practices, I think we're even more ready."

Plainsmen coach Bill MacArthur welcomed the return of Woll and the junior hasn't disappointed.

"Oh, baby," MacArthur said. "With him (Woll) and (25-goal scorer) Seth Gordon back, they've really allowed us to play at the 'A' level."

Woll has been a force, whether with the puck or defending the Shenendehowa zone.

"He first played for us as an eighth-grader and he started right away," MacArthur said. "What a strong kid and he was built like I couldn't believe. Unfortunately in the (Section II) against Saratoga, he hurt his back before. It was still a good game, but that hurt us badly. I really think he's enjoyed coming back."

The junior insists he's more of a stay-at-home defenseman, who is more apt to take care of his own end of the rink.

Standing at 5-foot-11 with a 200-pound frame, Woll has provided the Plainsmen with a bruising presence on the blueline, he hasn't held back from shooting the puck.

Woll has tallied 12 goals this season and assisted on 10 others.

"I'm just happy I could come back and help out," said Woll, who played the last two seasons on the Capital District Junior Selects team in Troy.

Woll suffered a knee injury in August in his first week back with the selects team, then opted in the fall to return to the Plainsmen.

"The biggest thing he brings to us is he gives all the kids confidence that we can win," MacArthur said. "Because he is such a Rock of Gibraltar. Besides his play, he's a real knowledgeable hockey player."

Many of Woll's goals this season have been memorable. He tallied the game-winner in the second period of Wednesday's play-in game against Canton.

Woll also has two game-winners in overtime.

He tallied with both teams skating with three players aside as Shenendehowa claimed its own tournament title against New Hartford on Jan. 22.

Woll also scored 49 seconds into overtime as the Plainsmen won the Salmon River Tournament on Dec. 19. A pair of penalties carried over into overtime to create a 4-on-4 situation.

"I couldn't wait for 4-on-4 because I knew he would score, early," MacArthur said. "(Brent) Douglas hustled like crazy on the forecheck, got the puck and fed him a pass. And he beat the New York select team (16-year-old goalie). He (Woll's) just a winner."

While playing the point on Shenendehowa's power play, Woll has provided the Plainsmen with even more firepower while with the man advantage.

"He's really got a great shot," MacArthur said.

"We try to make two or three good passes, but the main thing with the power play is just to get a lot of shots off," Woll said.

Shen posted a 31 percent efficiency on the power play (20-of-65). However the Plainsmen have tallied just one power-play goal in nine chances in the playoffs, one facet of their game they'll have to turn around this weekend.

"We've been doing better with our power-play," Woll said. "At first, we were running around a little on our power play, now we've calmed down and its worked better."

Under Woll's leadership, Shen has killed off 83 percent of its penalties (108-of-130).

"He knows the defensive zone and he plays it well and he's a great passer," MacArthur said.

The Albany Times-Union
 By ALAN HART , Staff writer
First published: Thursday, March 2, 2000

Shen scores early, then holds on

Plainsmen moves into state hockey quarterfinals

CLIFTON PARK -- Shenendehowa High frittered away almost all of a three-goal lead Wednesday night but held on for a tense 3-2 victory over Canton, advancing to the quarterfinals of the state high school hockey tournament.

The Plainsmen (24-3-1) will play Section III champion Ithaca High (23-3) at 1 p.m. Saturday at Cornell University. Saturday's winner goes to the state semifinals Friday, March 10, in Utica.

The triumph in this meeting of at-large tourney teams, coming on the heels of a 2-1 loss to arch-rival Saratoga in the Section II championship game four nights earlier, was a landmark win for Shen. It was the 300th victory in Bill MacArthur's 20 years as Shen coach. It also tied the team record for most victories in one season.

It did not come easily. After defenseman Jason Woll put the Plainsmen up 3-0 with a power-play goal at 6:54 of the second period, following early goals by Peter MacArthur and Nick Pugh, slumbering Canton (10-12-1) came back at Shen with a vengeance.

"Up until (Canton) scored their first goal, we played some great hockey,'' coach MacArthur said. "But we stopped skating after we got up 3-0. They really outplayed us, I thought, but our kids held on.''

The Bears got on the board skating a man up at 11:19 of the middle period when Cory Chase fired it between Shen goalie Bryan McDonald's pads. Mike Donnelly made it a one-goal game at 3:30 of the final period.

Canton would get no closer, thanks to some outstanding saves in the final minutes by McDonald. MacArthur said he wasn't worried that his team, which was unaware that he was at 299 career victories, would suffer a letdown after the emotional loss to Saratoga.

"I thought we would come out flying, and we did,'' MacArthur said. "When a team has a four-hour bus ride to get here, you want to make them not want to be out on the ice. You want to catch them and hit and score quickly.'' Glens Falls 6, New Rochelle 2: Ray Sipowicz scored twice in the first period to help Glens Falls advance.

The Indians (16-8-1) meet Monroe-Woodbury of Section IX at 5:30 p.m. Saturday in Suffern. 

The Post-Star, Glens Falls, NY

Thursday, March 2, 2000

Glens Falls gets win in qualifier

GLENS FALLS -- Glens Falls got two first-period goals from Ray Sipowicz and three point nights from Tom Girard and Brian Herlihy as it defeated New Rochelle 6-2 in a Division II State Regional qualifier ice hockey game Wednesday at the Glens Falls Recreation Center

The win advances Glens Falls to the regional round, where the Indians will play Monroe-Woodbury of section IX Saturday at Sport-O-Rama Rink in Suffern.  Opening faceoff is 5:30 p.m.

Sipwicz's early goals proved instrumental in getting the Indians started.  New Rochelle goalie Chris Barry frustrated Glens Falls' offense with he's solid play in net in the game's opening 10 minutes.  But once the Indians broke through, they seized control and kept it throughout the game.

The Post-Star, Glens Falls, NY

Sunday, February 27, 2000

G.F. falls in final

Section II - Ice Hockey Final

By Jim Tracy, Sports Writer

DELMAR -- They did not go down without a fight -- literally.
Glens Falls ice hockey saw its season end with a 3-1 loss to La Salle in the Section II championship in Division II at B.I.G. Arena Saturday.
There were 46 penalty minutes accessed in just the first two periods in a physical battle. By night's end 21 penalties were accessed.
A battle was expected, however.
The two teams split during the regular season, with Glens Falls winning the first game at home on Dec. 17 and La Salle the second at Hudson Valley Community College, its home ice, on Jan. 28.
Glens Falls finished 14-8-1, while La Salle improved to 18-5-2 and advanced to regional action.
Glens Falls was on the short-end of most of the power plays. The Indians trailed 8-4 in power plays and played at a two-man disadvantage for 4 1/2 minutes of the first two periods.
Glens Falls took advantage of its power play in the second period when Tom Girard scored on an assist from Ray Sipowicz to even the score at 1-1. Girard fell down, but redirected his shot past goalie Mike Dominelli.
La Salle's Justin Burke struck in the second period to put La Salle ahead. Burke tallied an assist on La Salle's first goal scored by Mike Barbaron.
Eric Cassidy added an insurance goal in the third period.

Glens Falls 0  1  0 -- 1
La Salle 1  1  1 -- 3
First Period --1, La Salle, Mohan (Burke) 10:20.
Second Period -- 2, Glens Falls, Girard (Sipowicz, Powers), pp :16. 3, La Salle, Barbera (Burke)8:35.
Third period -- 4, La Salle, Cassidy (Samiof, Kazanjian), 6:48.
Goalie-Saves: O'Connor (GF) 6-6-9--21; Domincelli (L) 7-3-8--18

Sun, Feb 27, 2000

Cadets go on defensive to advance

By Mike Dyer

DELMAR -- La Salle Institute's hockey team parlayed a strong defensive game with bruising physical play Saturday night to capture the Section II Division II championship.

The Cadets scored a pair of power-play goals in a penalty-filled game to turn back Glens Falls High, 3-1, at the new BethlehemIce Group Arena.

Cadets' goaltender Matt Dominelli blocked 17 of 18 shots to boost La Salle to its 13th win in its past 15 games.

With the victory, the Cadets will host Section III champion Fulton High either Friday afternoon or Saturday night at Hudson Valley Community College in the opening round of the regionals.

"My defense kept a lot of shots away from me," Dominelli said. "We're such a good team I

seldom see as many as 20 shots in a game. We keep our heads"

The LeMoyne College-bound goaltender improved to 12-5-1. He was named to the Capital District High School Hockey League's Second Team All-Star Squad after the La Salle victory.

Goals by Brian Mohan, Mike Barbera and Eric Cassidy were more than enough for the Cadets to improve to 18-5-2.

The teams did combine for 50 minutes in penalties and 12 power-plays as Glens Falls and La Salle skaters played this contest with 100 percent energy.

"It was a pretty rough game," losing Glens Falls head coach Don Miller said. "Players on both teams played hard. Not all of the penalties were because of thekids."

Cadets head coach Tim Flanigan said his skaters always play with energy and emotion.

"That's our team," Flanigan said. "We have the same players from last year. They're a year older and able to play more physical and take the body. My kids did it well."

Flanigan also liked the way his team handled its power-plays.

"We moved the puck well," he said. "We're getting good looks with the extra man. We've progressed."

Mohan scored his 18th goal of the season at 10:20 of the opening period on the Cadets' first power-play of the game.

The junior winger knocked in a loose puck after a scramble in front of the Indians' net. Defenseman Justin Burke scooped the puck away from Glens Falls goaltender Matt O'Connor and got the puck to Mohan for the 1-0 lead.

Glens Falls wasted no time in the middle period in evening the score. Only 16 seconds had expired in the period when sophomore winger Tom Girard was credited with a power-play goal.

Stationed in the middle of the slot, Girard fell to the ice while redirecting Ray Sipowicz' blue line slapper past Dominelli.

Barbera put La Salle ahead to stay eight minutes later with another extra-man goal. La Salle actually skated five-on-three when Burke fired a shot from the left point. Barbera tipped in the shot.

La Salle made it a two-goal lead at 6:48 of the final session with Cassidy, a ninth grader, finding himself alone inside the right faceoff circle for his goal.

Cassidy went to the far corner of the net with his shot.

Besides Dominelli,defensemen Justin Burke and forward Brian Fage were named to the Capital District High School Hockey League All-Star First Team. Carnevale was voted to the Second Team.

LA SALLE 3, GLENS FALLS 1

Glens Falls01 0--1

La Salle1 1 1--3

First period: 1., La Salle Brian Mohan 18 (unassisted) 10:20 (pp.). Penalties - Ben Tefft (G) (tripping) 9:31; Kyle Joly (G) (slashing) 10:20; Kyle Reynolds (L) (high sticking) 10:20; Tim Powers (G) (interference) 12:12; Mike Barbera (L) (hooking) 14:18; Scott Wyle (G) (hitting after whistle) 15:00; Reynolds (L) (unsportsmanlike conduct) 15:00.

Second period: 2., Glens Falls Tom Girard 15 (Ray Sipowicz) 0:16 (ppg.); 3., La Salle Mike Barbera 9 (Justin Burke) 8:35. Penalties - Andrew Carnevale (L) (roughing) 0:51; Girard (G) (roughing) 0:51; Tefft (G) (unsportsmanlike conduct) 3:24; Reynolds (L) (unsportsmanlike conduct) 3:24; Marc Carpenter (G)(playing without helmet) 4:27; Mohan (L) (hooking) 4:49; Brian Herlihy (G) (slashing) 7:13; Joly (G) (hit after whistle) 8:16; Girard (G) (elbowing) 8:42; Colin Griffith (L) (holding) 11:45.

Third period: 4., La Salle Eric Cassidy 7 (Adam Samiof, Andrew Kazanjian) 6:48. Penalties - Brian Fage (L) (hooking) 2:47; Joly (G) (hooking) 13:57.

Shots on goal:Glens Falls 6-4-8- 18, La Salle 7-7-7- 21 Power play opportunities: Glens Falls 1 of 4, La Salle 2 of 8. Goalies: Glens Falls Matt O'Connor 18 saves, La Salle Matt Dominelli 17 saves.

The Saratogian, Saratoga Springs, NY

Fri, Feb 25, 2000

Shen earns shot at Streaks

By WARREN ALBER

SARATOGA SPRINGS -- The Shendendehowa High School ice hockey team has been looking forward to its rematch with Saratoga Springs.

The Plainsmen almost broke their date.

Top-seeded Shenendehowa, ranked second in New York state among Division I schools, found itself tied with Niskayuna-Schenectady entering the third period before pulling away to a 4-1 victory Thursday night at the Saratoga Springs Ice Rink.

The Plainsmen will meet Saratoga in the championship game Saturday at 9:30 p.m. at the Capital Big Arena in Delmar. Saratoga was leading Christian Brothers Academy, 4-1, after two periods Thursday night.

Anthony Roman's goal at 6:32 of the third period proved to be the game-winner as the Plainsmen, looking past Niskayuna-Schenectady toward their rematch with Saratoga, finally put away the Mohawks.

Roman, who had just finished serving a coincidental roughing penalty, took a 2-on-1 pass from Jose Posada, deked Niskayuna goaltender Mike Rockwell to his backhand and scored into the open net.

'I missed a lot of goals tonight,' Roman said. 'I was anxious, we all were anxious. It was a big relief when that goal went in.'

Up until that point, Rockwell had been standing on his head, turning aside 24 of the first 25 shots he faced in the game. But once Shenendehowa broke through, the pressure of having to beat a lesser team waned and the Plainsmen quickly scored two more goals by Andrew Hebert and Nick Pugh to secure their berth in their third straight Section II final.

'There was so much on the line for us. All the pressure was on us because we were expected to win,' Shenendehowa coach Bill MacArthur said. 'Rockwell played really well, and you have to give Niskayuna credit for the game plan they had. They knew they were going to get outshot, but they weren't going to let us walk around them and crash the net.'

Shenendehowa, playing tentatively in the opening minutes, managed to get on the board first with a short-handed goal at 6:15. With Shenendehowa's John Buckley in the box, the Plainsmen dumped the puck into the Niskayuna zone where the Mohawks defense misplayed it. The puck squirted out to Roman in the left circle, and his shot rang off the left post. The rebound went to Peter MacArtur in the right circle, and he poked it home.

Niskayuna tied the game with a slow-developing 3-on-2. Mark Giemza took a back pass from Ross Lackey, and his shot through traffic snuck under Shenendehowa goalie Brian McDonald's arm at 12.58.

Shenendehowa dominated the second period, taking the first twelve shots but coming away empty thanks to Rockwell. The senior goaltender made back-to-back saves on Posada and Mark Nirsberger from close range 21Ú2 minutes into the period. Three minutes later MacArthur found Roman in the slot, but Roman's shot was smothered by Rockwell. The onslaught continued into the next minute when Nick Pugh fed Posada to the left of the crease, but Rockwell slid across and swept the weak shot away.

Rockwell's final shining moment in the period came with four minutes left when Pugh fed Roman trailing the play, and Roman's blast was gloved by the goaltender.

'I'm sure we came in thinking this would be a blowout,' Pugh said. 'We didn't think it would be 1-1 going into the third period. We were a little bit nervous, but once we scored to take the lead, the pressure was off.'

The Plainsmen will meet Saratoga in the championship game Saturday at 9:30 p.m. at the Capital Big Arena in Delmar.

First period -- 1, Shen, MacArthur (Roman), 6:15 (sh). 2, Nisk, Giemza (Lackey), 12:58. Penalties -- Buckley, Shen (tripping), 5:38; Christy, Nisk (hitting after whistle), 10:00; Roman, Shen (hitting after whistle), 10:00; Christy, Nisk (slashing), 14:12.

Second period -- None. Penalties -- Nappi, Nisk (high sticking), 2:16; MacArthur, Shen (unsportsmanlike conduct), 14:06.

Third period -- 3, Shen, Roman (Posada), 6:32; 4, Shen, Hebert (Jackstadt), 8:20; 5, Shen, Pugh (Carrier), 9:37. Penaltlies -- Lackey, Nisk (roughing), 4:33; Roman, Shen (roughing), 4:43.

Shots on goal -- Niskayuna 6-3-7 -- 16, Shenendehowa 10-12-9 -- 31. Goaltenders -- Niskayuna, Rockwell 31 shots, 27 saves. Shenendehowa, MacDonald, 16-15. Power-play opportunities -- Niskayuna 0-2, Shenendehowa 0-2.

G.F. eyes hockey title

The Glens Falls High School ice hockey team faces top-seeded LaSalle for the Section II, Division II championship tonight at 6:30 at the Bethlehem Ice Group Arena.

The Indians advanced to the title game thanks to a 7-3 victory over South Glens Falls Wednesday.  Marc Carpenter recorded the hat trick for the Indians.  Tom Girard scored two goals and T.J. Palmer had one goal and two assist.

The game will be the third this season between the teams.  Glens Falls (15-8-1) defeated LaSalle (17-5-2) Dec. 17, 7-3.  LaSalle won the rematch Jan. 28, 2-0.

The Record, Troy, NY

Sat, Feb 26, 2000

Cadets' Carnevale a bruising blue line force

By Chris Fitz Gerald

TROY -- Andrew Carnevale didn't know what to expect when he skated with his La Salle Institute teammates for the first time.

Sure, he knew the Cadets had a tradition of high-flying hockey and this season's version featured plenty of speed and skill.

After taking a season off from hockey in his junior year, Carnevale couldn't wait to return to the sport.

"I can remember the first game surprised me a little bit because the people around me started hitting," said Carnevale, who played for nearly two seasons with the Capital District Junior Selects team in Troy. "I was expecting to see a lot of finesse and a lot of skating around, with people scoring a lot of goals."

Carnevale immediately fit in with his new teammates. In turn, the right winger's preference for playing an aggressive game has inspired his teammates. The result is one of La Salle's most physical teams ever.

Carnevale and his teammates hope the end result is a state championship. The Cadets (17-5-2) take their first step in the postseason when they meet Glens Falls (15-8-1) for Section II's Division II title tonight at 6:30 at the BIG arena in Delmar.

In Division I, Shenendehowa 23-2-1) takes on Saratoga (18-4-2) for the sectional title at 9:30 tonight at the same site. The defending state champion Blue Streaks have prevailed in the final the last two years over the Plainsmen, who are currently ranked No. 1 in the state in Division I.

A fullback and linebacker for La Salle's football team the past two seasons, Carnevale enjoys contact. At 5-foot-6 and 175 pounds, Carnevale has been a natural on the football field.

He's just as comfortable bearing down on opponents on the ice surface with his stocky frame.

"The main reason why we're playing so well is because Carnevale's playing for us this year," La Salle goaltender Matt Dominelli said. "You can just see the kids'

faces light up when he hits somebody when they touch the puck. He's the main force out there."

Carnevale takes pride in the fact that he goes after opponents with a clean playing style.

"He's one of the few players in the (Capital District High School Hockey League) who knows how to check with his shoulder," La Salle coach Tim Flanigan said."He's patient out there and waits until just the right moment until the other player is in tight, then drops his shoulder into the player. "

The son of ex-Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute assistant football coach and longtime former Tamarac High head coach Ed Carnevale, Andrew Carnevale looks forward to working out.

This may have been brought on by his scholastic football career, but his time weight lifting and running in the spring and summer months have made him a stronger hockey player.

"Working out comes naturally to me," Carnevale said. "At home when I was a kid, I never got sent to my room, it was a pushup kind of thing. I enjoy the feeling or working out and the benefits you get from it."

His presence on the ice has been positive in the offensive category, as Carnevale has posted a plus/minus rating of plus 27.

Carnevale has shown plenty of skill this season as well. He's third on the team in scoring with 12 goals and 14 assists.

"When he was new to our team, we weren't sure where he would fit it," Flanigan said. "He's just so strong physically and he's able to out-muscle the other player to get a shot off. He might be skating in the high slot and going in the other direction, but he's still able to snap off a shot the opposite way and make a play which most other players wouldn't be able to do."

Carnevale has played since the middle portion of the season on the Cadets' 'red line' with junior Brian Fage (13-25-38) at center and senior Joe Maddalla on left wing.

"You play differently when you play with people who are better than you," Carnevale said. "You play better.And besides scoring this team is capable of playing a physical game."

One of his most dramatic offensive moments came in a game against Mamaroneck of Section I on Jan 22.

The Tigers converted on a penalty shot to tie the game with nine seconds remaining in regulation. Carnevale won the faceoff at center ice, muscled his way past a pair of defenders, took a shot, then buried his own rebound to lift the Cadets to a 3-2 win,

"This is just one example of Carnevale's persistence and strength," Flanigan said. "He has a great work ethic and is a very smart hockey player. He plays so steady and is a well-rounded team player."

The victory kept La Salle's unbeaten steak intact and the Cadets went on to extend the string to 13 games without a defeat, including 12 straight wins.

The Cadets defeated Suburban Council champion Shenendehowa 3-1 and Saratoga 3-2 to cap the stretch.

"In the first shift against Saratoga he hurt his shoulder," Flanigan said. "I thought we had lost him for the entire game, but he's such a tough competitor, he came back. He's a player who is in great physical shape. "

Since then, La Salle suffered a 4-2 defeat to Shenendehowa and a 2-0 setback to Saratoga, and hasn't played a game since Feb. 11.

"I think those two losses were a blessing for us," Carnevale said. "I think they woke us up and made us realize we can lose a game. I think having these two weeks will get us back untracked and we're going into sectionals with our heads on straight. Those two losses were tough, but sectionals are what matters."

The second-seeded Indians are a very physical team as well. No. 1-seeded La Salle downed Glens Falls 2-0 on Jan. 28. The victory avenged a 7-3 defeat on Dec. 17. Both matchups were rough-and-tumble affairs.

"We just have to play our game against them," Carnevale said. "If we take it seriously, we have a lot of talented people on this team. If people use their talents and really go out after it from what high school really offers, we can achieve what we want to achieve and reach states."

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