Sachem Hockey Starts Season with 6-2 Record

Here's a look at how the Sachem varsity ice hockey team has performed during their first seven games of the season:

Game 1, Smithtown 3, Sachem 2: In the season opener, Sachem met a very strong Smithtown team. After falling behind by two goals, Chris Chizzinotti scored to put Sachem on the board as the second period ended 2-1. It could have been worst if not for the excellent goaltending by Brendon Bassett, and the strong defensive plays by defensemen Nick Lojo and Sal Calvagna. In the third period, Smithtown made it 3-1, 30 seconds into the quarter. Chris Porcillo scored with six minutes left for Sachem.

Game 2, St. John’s 7, Sachem 2: Against St John’s, the Arrows came out flying and attacking with lots of shots. Sachem found themselves again behind at the 10 minute mark of the first period. One minute later Porcillo found the back of the net on a nice setup from defensemen Joe Marrore and center Alex Posillico. The tie didn’t last long as St. John’s scored four unanswered goals in a span of eight minutes. That’s how it stayed until Posillico made it 5-2 on assist from Porcillo and Chizzinotti.

Game 3, Sachem 6, Northport/Huntington 3: Still looking to get a win on the board, the Arrows hosted Northport. They came out with two quick goals by Chizzonitti and Chris Haun. In a span of five minutes, Sachem scored four goals by Chris Porcillo, two by Nick Tarasco and Rob Donnelly. Posillico added three assist and Chizzonitti added two assists to go with his goal to secure their first win.

Game 4, Sachem 8, St. Anthony’s 4: The Arrows wasted no time in scoring four first period goals against the Friars; two by Chizzonitti assisted by Alex Posillico and Nick Lojo, Brandon Smith netted his first from Chizzonitti and Porcillo and Posillico added a fourth from Eric Santiago. The Arrows were a bit flat to start the second, giving the Friars two goals, making it a 4-2 game. That didn’t last long as Posillico netted his second of the game from Lojo and newcomer to Sachem, Anthony D’agostino, got his first from Santiago and Anthony Pisano. St. Anthony’s added two more, which were equaled when Santiago and Chizzonitti added goals to secure the 8-4 victory.

Game 5, Sachem 4, West Islip 3: In a back and forth game and not having to rely on top scorers Chizzonitti, Porcillo or Posillico, the Arrows got some solid production out of Donnelly and his two goals, Haun and the game winner in overtime by Santiago, which was assisted by Lojo. Although the offense was quiet, at the other end, goaltender Brendon Bassett was solid throughout and the defense was the same, as Lojo, Sal Calvagna, Joe Marrone, Mike Russo, Mike Buffoleno and Pisano gave nothing to West Islip.

Game 6, Sachem 7, Middle Country 4: Sachem introduced Brian Giles who was promoted from JV as a permanent replacement for the injured goaltender Will Harris, who suffered a season ending injury. The Arrows responded well by getting balanced scoring from six players: Chizzonitti (1g, 1a), Porcillo (2g), Posillico (1g, 2a), Donnelly (1g, 2a), Santiago (1g, 1a) and Digiavanna (1g, 1a).

Game 7, Sachem 3, Hills 2 (OT): In a battle of the goaltenders, Sachem’s Brendon Bassett out lasted HHH’s Eric Tatarian. The game ended in a tie at 2 during regulation time on goals by Haun and Chizzonitti. Overtime was just as good as the game continued back and forth until Mike Buffoleno set up Porcillo with a great pass for the game winner, as the win streak reaches five games and record grows to 5-2. Next up is a strong East Islip team and a good test for the Arrows.

Game 8, Sachem 5, East Islip 2: In this game it was all defense. Sachem's six defensemen played like a well oiled machine, as Nick Lojo, Joe Marrone, Sal Calvagna, Mike Buffoleno, Anthony Pisano and Mike Russo blocked shots, kept East Islip players to the outside by clogging up the middle and even two of the five goals the Arrows scored were by defensemen Russo and Lojo. Except for two outside shot goals Bassett was solid all night coming up big when he needed to. The Arrows came out strong but found themselves in a no score battle until Russo fired a slap shot from the point off a faceoff win by Donnelly. It wasn't until the three-minute mark and the first penalty was called, and again defensemen Lojo scored from the point to put the Arrows up 2-1. In the thired period Santiago scored his first of two goals on a nice pass from Lojo making it 3-1. East Islip answered back and kept the game close  at 3-2, until Haun and Santiago scored late in the third to secure the victory. The Arrows next game is this Sunday 620 p.m. at The Rinx in Hauppauge.