Relive the roller hockey showdown as the Macs take on the Minos in a high-scoring thriller, with a hat-trick hero, dramatic overtime, and a shootout showdown. Roller hockey action at its finest!
The Yeshivah University roller hockey team laced up their skates once again on a Wednesday night, fully recharged after the holiday break. They welcomed back the returning champ, Benji Froom, who's now a married man and still the leading scorer. He was stoked to team up with the new YU superstar, Sol Feder. Meanwhile, the Raging Mino's were eager to steal the spotlight and first place from the 3-1 Macs. That one loss was a forfeit due to the holidays.
The game started with Yeshiva dominating multiple power plays, but they couldn't quite light the lamp. They were working through the early season jitters, trying to find that chemistry, just like NHL teams do at the start of the 2023-24 season. Finally, Yeshiva broke the ice at 8:46 into the game, with Zach Levy sniping a beauty past the Minos goaltender for a 1-0 lead, sending the Macs fans into a frenzy.
The Raging Minos had a quick answer, though, with a slick tic-tac-toe play on the power play. Jason Machowksy fed Tom Conway, who found Evan Street for a sweet tally, tying the game.
At the end of the period, YU led in shots 12-8.
The second period turned into a barnburner! Evan Street slipped one past Mintz 3:26 in after a Yeshiva defensive hiccup, putting the Minos ahead 2-1. But the Macs quickly rebounded thanks to EITAN Levy, their leading scorer, who netted his eighth goal of the season three minutes later. The goal was a result of some impressive cycling by Zach Levy and Captain Yoni Drazin. However, the Minos snatched the lead back 74 seconds later, with Tom Conway striking again, set up by George Brockman and Ben Silver.
Then, a Machowsky interference call gave the Macs a man advantage, and they capitalized as Benji Froom found Yoni Drazin, who set up Zach Levy for a power play goal, knotting the game at three. The “Gongsshow” continued when Evan Street and Sol Feder exchanged some words and both ended up in the penalty box.
With Yeshiva's two-way star in the bin, the Minos capitalized once more, as Tom Conway fed Taylor Levy to take the lead. But just 17 seconds from the end, Ross Ginsberg got penalized for roughing, and Zach Levy set up EITAN Levy for another power play tally, making it 4-4 when the horn sounded. In that frame, the Minos outshot the Macs 15-9.
Moving into the third period, Zach Levy took a penalty early on, but the Macs' goalie, Micheal Mintz, stood tall. A Ginsberg penalty gave YU an extra man, and on the delayed penalty, Zach scored Levy completed the hat trick, securing his fifth point of the night and putting the Macs ahead 5-4 with eight minutes to go.
The Macs had a chance to seal the deal when Tom Conway was penalized for tripping, but they couldn't capitalize. As the clock ticked down, the Minos cranked up the pressure and found a lifeline when Benji Froom was penalized for tripping. They tied it on the power play when Ben Silver found Evan Street, who then set up Tom Conway for his second of the evening with 3:16 left in regulation.
The game was now headed to overtime, with shots at 12-8 in favor of the Minos for the period and 35-29 overall. Mintz had an impressive 30 saves for Yeshiva University.
Overtime was a nail-biter, with both teams having their chances. However, tensions boiled over between Tom Conway and Sol Feder, leading to unsportsmanlike conduct penalties after a fight 1:40 into the period.
Since no one could break the deadlock in overtime, it was time for a shootout.
In the shootout, Evan Street was stopped by Mintz, and Zach Levy couldn't find the back of the net.
In round 2, Taylor Levy's attempt was denied by Mintz, but then Benji Froom stepped up and scored! The Macs won 6-5 and held onto first place in the ISCA league at the midway point of the regular season, leaving their fans singing Hebrew songs in celebration.
Three Stars of the game:
1. **Zach Levy** - He was a scoring machine, netting a hat trick and contributing significantly with five points in the game, including a crucial power play goal. He now has 15 points in 4 game, and is the Macs leading scorer.
2. **Tom Conway** - Conway showcased his offensive prowess, scoring two goals for the Minos and being a constant threat every time he touched the puck. His second goal forced the game into overtime.
3. **Benji Froom** - Froom was a key playmaker for the Macs, and redeemed himself for a late game penalty with the shootout winner.
Play of the game: **Zach Levy's hat-trick goal** in the third period, completing his trio of tallies and securing the Macs' 5-4 lead. It was a masterful display of skill and determination, from the stud coming on a power play.
It ultimately became the pivotal moment that set the stage for the thrilling overtime and shootout that followed.
The unsung hero of the game: **Micheal Mintz**, the goaltender for Yeshiva University. While the game was high-scoring, Mintz stood tall, making an impressive 30 saves. He played a crucial role in keeping the Macs in the game, especially during some challenging moments. Mike is now 4-0 on the ISCA season with a 2.72 GAA and an .872 Save Percentage.
THEY SAID IT: "I'm incredibly proud of the team's resilience tonight. We had our ups and downs, but these boys showed great character and determination. Zach Levy's hat-trick and the teamwork in that power play were standout moments."- Macs season ticket holder.
"Despite the shootout loss, our team played with heart. Evan Street's contributions were notable, and we're determined to build on this performance in our next game. It's a long season, and we've got a lot of hockey left to play." -Minos (2-2-1) Nation.
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