Joey Samango erupted for five goals and assisted on two others as St. Joseph’s Prep defeated Holy Ghost Prep 8-4 Monday afternoon in an Atlantic Prep Athletic Conference game at the University of Pennsylvania’s Class of 1923 Rink.
The win was the second for the Hawks (12-2-2-0, 1-2-1-0 in the APAC) over the Firebirds this season.
Zach Pers gave Holy Ghost Prep (11-4-3, 3-1-0-1) a 1-0 lead just 72 seconds after the opening faceoff but Samango tied the game for the Hawks at the 3:22 mark before Shane O’Neill’s goal at 11:07 gave the hosts a lead they would not relinquish.
Tristan Winata and Samango scored goals in a span of 1:39 to put St. Joseph’s Prep up 4-1 2:45 into the middle period.
“We capitalized in a couple of their mistakes right around the net,” said Sr. Joseph’s Prep coach David Giacomin, “a couple turnovers rom defensemen and nice move from one of our forwards, Next thing you know we were up 4-1 which was kind of surprising at that point.”
At that point, Holy Ghost Prep coach Gump Whiteside used his timeout and lifted goaltender Colin Mudrick in favor of Jack Unger. At that point, momentum shifted in the Firebirds’ direction; Brady Baehser’s goal at the 6:49 mark made it a 4-2 game and Holy Ghost Prep enjoyed a 21-7 shot advantage in the middle period.
“In the second period, they called a timeout and totally turned up their legs,” Giacomin said.
But the Firebirds could come no closer. Samango and Holy Ghost Prep’s John Seravalli traded goals before Samango scored his fourth goal of the game with 45 seconds left in the period to give the Hawks a 6-3 advantage.
Seravalli scored his second goal of the game 2:27 into the final period but Jeffrey Hammond answered a minute-and-a-half later. Samango scored his fifth goal into an empty net.
Monday’s game was the Hawks’ first time on ice since winning the Purple Puck tournament just prior to New Year’s Day.
“I think this team’s a really good team,” Giacomin said. “We’re certainly strong up front and we have great goaltending. Our defense is starting to come into its own. We’re playing with the right kind of pace.”
The Hawks have been shorthanded in several games this season, including their two conference losses.
“Any time you’re missing three or four of especially your better players, you’re going to have a hard time playing against these APAC teams,” Giacomin said.
Holy Ghost Prep 1 2 1—4
St. Joseph’s Prep 2 4 2—8
First-period goals: Zach Pers (HGP) from Brady Baehser, 1:12; Joey Samango (SJP) from Jeffrey Hammond and Patrick Sweeney, 3:22; Shane O’ Neill (SJP) from Jake Schultz, 11:07
Second-period goals: Tristan Winata (SJP) from Samango and Caden Kelly, 1:06; Samango (SP) unassisted, 2:45; Baehser (HGP) unassisted, 6:49; Samango (SJP) from Hammond and Winata, 12:27; John Seravalli (HGP) from Baehser and Shaun Moore, 14:57 (pp); Samango (SJP) from Winata and Hammond, 16:15;
Third-period goals: Seravalli (HGP) from Moore and Kieran Mulholland, 2:27: Hammond (HGP) from Ben Kerson, 3:56; Samango (SJP) from Winata, 16:17 (en)
Shots: Holy Ghost Prep 49, St. Joseph’s Prep 24; Saves: Colin Mudrick (HGP) 4 and Jack Unger (HGP) 12; Ajay White (SJP) 45
More about St. Joseph’s Prep at https://www.sjprep.org
More about Holy Ghost Prep at https://www.holyghostprep.org
Hockey Happenings 