Danny Nemirov has a pre-game routine that takes about 45 minutes and not only involves warming up with his fellow goalies, but also working on his footwork and hands, and having teammates taking as many shots as he can squeeze in. Combined with the rest of the prep work the team did, the senior goalie was ready.
Nemirov made 12 saves to lead a stifling Ward Melville defense that shut down Massapequa, 12-3, in the Class A Long Island championship on Saturday.
"I got my routine done," Nemirov said after the game. "I got a lot of reps in practice this week. I knew which shots I was going to be seeing. We watched a lot of tape. I was able to scout a bunch of their guys, and I feel like it paid off."
The win marks Ward Melville's 16th Long Island championship, and its first since 2000 – when the Patriots defeated Massapequa for the title as well. Ward Melville is 5-1 all-time against Massapequa.
Here's how Chiefs head coach Tim Radomski put it after Saturday's game: "Their goalie was a wall. He was the key. We average over 10 goals a game and we had three tonight. He stopped a lot of our shots.”
Nemirov made five stops in the first quarter alone, after which Ward Melville led 2-0. Teammate Danny Bucaro said those saves were what fueled the offense, which then built an 8-0 lead before Massapequa even put up its first goal.
"Oh my god, that gave us so much energy," Bucaro said. "He’s been playing great, all year."
Bucaro himself had a lot to do with the team's success: he totaled four goals and an assist as one of eight Patriots who scored in the win.
Jake Kepes added two goals and two assists and Jack Bruckner had a goal and two assists for the Patriots, who enter the state championships with a perfect 20-0 record. Ward Melville will play Shenendehowa at 8 p.m. Wednesday at Marist College in a state semifinal; the finals will be played June 8 at St. John Fisher College.
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