It was a Dominic Galanti breakaway goal that kicked off the scoring for St. Francis on Thursday night at Hyde Park, and Galanti’s third goal of the night was an empty netter to seal a 4-2 victory over Niagara Falls.
“We thought they were a good team, but other than that, we really didn’t know much,” said Ben Kyte, whose goal with 25 seconds left in the second period stood as the game winner. “But we kind of assumed that they were gonna be a good team, and that’s how we played out there.”
“Yeah, we thought they were gonna come hard, they were gonna put pucks deep, make us run around a bit, but we kept our system down and just did work,” said Galanti.
Galanti’s first goal came 1:11 into the second period.
“I blocked a shot,” he explained. “It went right off my hand, and then before I knew it, I saw clear ice. Just went down, toe dragged it, and backhanded it top shelf.”
His linemate Cody Felser set him up for the second goal just a few minutes later for a 2-0 St. Francis lead.
“Felser just fed me right in the slot, and I just put it top right,” Galanti said. “Went right above the goalie’s shoulder.”
Niagara Falls’ Hunter O’Donoghue scored his second goal of the season less than two minutes later to cut the Red Raiders’ lead to 2-1, but they answered back later in the period with Kyte’s goal.
Mike Laurrie again cut the deficit to one 6:20 into the third period, with O’Donoghue picking up the assist. After a timeout with 1:24 left in the third, the Wolverines pulled goaltender Max Asklar, but St. Francis took advantage of the empty net, and Galanti capitalized for his third goal of the game. Felser again picked up the assist.
“I was ecstatic,” Galanti said of completing the hat trick. “It was my second career hat trick, so it’s one for the record books for me.”
Captain Evan Herman described Kyte as a “grinder” and Galanti as a “pure goal scorer,” and senior defenseman Andrew Mazzone felt that Galanti especially exemplified what St. Francis Fed hockey is all about.
“Just the Federation,” Mazzone said. “Gal-ominator putting three bingos in the back of the net, that’s what it’s all about … Blue collar. The Federation. The St. Francis Federation.”
Sophomore goaltender Vinny Vaccaro finished with 18 saves for the win, and coach Timmy Benner was happy with his team’s play overall.
“We played a good game,” he said.
The Red Raiders are 2-1 and hope to carry the momentum from Thursday’s game into Sunday’s matchup with Grand Island.