Red Devils Hold off Lancaster

By Francis Boeck fboeck@fromthe300level.com

It always helps when you’re able to play with a lead. Clarence played with a lead for all but 11 seconds on Saturday when they defeated Lancaster 2-1 at the Northtown Center on Saturday. Having and holding the lead was especially important for the Red Devils. Last Sunday, Clarence had a 3-2 lead over Niagara Wheatfield at the end of the second period, but allowed four goals against in the third period and lost 6-3.

“We’ve had trouble scoring, for us to get the lead is something were not used too”, Clarence Head Coach Richard Brooks said. “It was important for us to protect that lead.” “It was important, scoring 12 seconds in we surprised them”, sophomore forward Nick Messuro said. “We ran with it.” The Red Devils took that lead all the way to the end this time in the win over the Legends. One of many late season High School Boys Federation Hockey games this weekend. Just 12 seconds into the game, Nick Lunetta and Cam Lock found Messuro in front of the net to put the Red Devils on top. Clarence picked up momentum and kept pressure on the Legends for almost the entire period.

With less than two minutes left in the period, the Red Devils had a 3-on-1 breakaway and converted. Matt Zaffram took a shot from around the faceoff circle and Messuro grabbed the rebound and put it home to give his team the 2-0 lead heading into the intermission.

In the second, Lancaster looked like a different team, as the Legends went from having five shots in the first period to having 17 shots in the second period alone. The Legends made Clarence play on their heels. The pressure paid off quick for the Legends as they got on the board. Noah Machlowski knocked home a rebound off a Kevin Loftus shot from the point. The Legends had several good chances to score but passes either went past a teammate or skipped off a stick. In the third, the Red Devils picked their game back up. Lancaster had more chances to tie the game, including getting a puck in the net just after the whistle blew. But, ultimately Clarence held on for the win.

“Going down 2-0 at the start of the game, is something that shouldn’t happen but we did and Clarence took advantage of it”, Lancaster Head Coach Kevin Miller said. According to Brooks, the win is bigger than just two points.

“First of all, they’re a Division 1 team. Second, they’re a large school, were a large school so it’s very likely we’ll will see them in the playoffs”, Brooks said. “It was a huge game.” Messuro, a sophomore, leads the Red Devils in scoring with six points. According to his coach, Messuro even at a young age is the example of who he wants in the program. “He’s a very smart hockey player, very coachable and does what he’s supposed to do”, Brooks said. “It’s those kinds of kids that we look for going into the future.” “The older guys are helping me out a lot”, Messuro said. “It’s fun.”

At the moment, Clarence sits at the top spot in the Division 2 standings and in fifth place in the Large School seeding for the playoffs. In order to be ready for the playoffs, the Red Devils need to just keep playing like they did Saturday. “We need to keep playing like we are now, especially against Division 1 opponents”, Messuro said.

“We need to play our game and be disciplined”, Brooks stated.

Just three weeks for before the playoffs, Brooks challenged his team leaders in practice this week saying, “It’s time for them to step up, it’s their team now.” Clarence will play Kenmore East Sunday at Buffalo State for a 1pm faceoff. Lancaster will not be action in action until Thursday when they face Will North at 6:30pm.