Saturday, December 17, 2005
Marc Menzione had two goals, while Owen Meyer, Drew Satterley and Anthony Ciraulo each had one.
By GREG GULAS
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
BOARDMAN -- If you expect to be the best team in your division, then you had better prove to the team sitting atop the perch that you are worthy of replacing them should they falter along the way.
The Mahoning Valley Phantoms did just that as they took a giant step toward respectability within the NAHL's North Division Friday, defeating the U.S. National Under-17 squad, 5-3, at The Ice Zone.
"Our guys feel like they can play with anyone and when they bring their A game, they can do just that," Phantoms coach Bob Mainhardt said. "We had good line changes and an excellent work ethic so I was pleased with our play tonight in both of those areas."
Phantoms' record
The Phantoms (17-9-2, 36 points) have won five straight are 9-0-1 at home this season. The loss snapped a two-game winning streak and five-game unbeaten streak for USNTDP (19-7-4, 42 points).
Marc Menzione scored two goals and Owen Meyer, Drew Satterley and Anthony Ciraulo each added a goal to pace Mahoning Valley, which was outshot 36-32.
"We had everyone pulling in the right direction and that is what is needed if you expect to beat a team the caliber of USNTDP," Mainhardt said. "[Ryan] Zapolski was outstanding once again in goal for us. He had some unbelievable saves and some softies that he probably wishes he had back.
"Overall, however, I was pleased with everyone's performance."
Menzione scored his first goal on a power play opportunity with just two seconds remaining in the first period to give Mahoning Valley a 1-0 lead. The Phantoms made it 2-0 when Owen Meyer added his slap shot just 1:13 into the second period.
Ryan Hayes' 11th goal of the year for USNTDP at 3:12 of the period, however, would cut the Phantom lead in half heading to the final period. But Drew Satterley's power play goal, his 14th of the year with 11:17 remaining, increased the Phantom margin to two goals once again.
Within a point
Ian Cole's net shot for USNTDP with 2:06 left then cut the margin to 3-2, but Menzione's unassisted goal with 1:05 left gave Mahoning Valley a 4-2 lead.
The divisional leaders would not go away, however, as Brennan Vargas' slap shot cut the Phantom lead to 4-3 with just 37 seconds remaining.
Anthony Ciraulo scored with 17 ticks remaining for his team-leading 15th goal of the year to close out the scoring.
"We squandered quite a few power play opportunities tonight and you can't do that if you expect to win the game," said USNTDP coach Ron Rolston. "These were two very good teams that played really hard."
Ryan Zapolski rejected 33 shots in goal for the Phantoms, improving to 13-5-2.
Josh Unice had 27 saves for USNTDP, falling to 6-3-2.
The teams play at 7 tonight at the Ice Zone.