It pays to be on time for York Hockey games. In the first few minutes of the Friday night match versus Wheaton West, the Dukes fired 10 shots on goal, a couple each by Daniel Byrne, Matt Dufort and Ryan Pedote and another by Grey Miller. Dufort closed the effort at 5:45 with a rebound off his own wrist shot. Tom Sieracki, Michael Rouzer, Mitchell Kurzweil and Byrne delivered excellent defense in the first period, but with two in the box, York couldn't hold back Wheaton West who evened the score before the buzzer.
Shortly into the second period, Trevor Corsello put York back in the lead with an assist by Nick Lee. The margin was short lived when, despite great back checking by Miller, Wheaton West evened the score 2-2 at 13:00.
It also pays to stick around during York Hockey games. The third period saw strong efforts from Mark Dorsey and two shots on goal from Brandon Fuchsen, and additional shots from Tom Sieracki, Frankie Carbonetti and Rouzer. Matt Sabatini kicked in a strong defensive effort and a big save from goaltender Liam McFarlane at 5:15 put a charge in York’s play.
At 3:57, Dufort scored to bring York ahead 3-2. Thirty seconds later, Carbonetti buried another goal with an assist from Dufort. York kept the pressure on. McFarlane delivered another awesome kick save and Joseph Levin added one more goal to end the game with a 5-2 win.
Up and down battle against Lyons
The next day, York traveled to Darien to take on a well-rested Lyons Township who came to play. Despite a couple shots on goal from the blue line by Fuchsen, Lyons repeatedly took the puck to the net in the first period. With back up by Dufort, Byrne and Sieracki, McFarlane held off Lyons' efforts until on a power play, Lyons scored at 4:01. The Lyons scored again with 10 second left in the first period.
After a break for ice cleaning, the Dukes came out of the locker with new energy. Marcos Kapsalis and Joey Hayes combined forces to deliver three goals in quick fashion, bringing the score to 3-2.
The game slowed down after over-the-top physicality from Lyons sent Levin off the ice for repair. At 2:07, York capitalized on a penalty play with a goal by Rouzer, assisted by Kapsalis. That goal got under Lyons’ fur and 10 seconds later, Lyons brought the game to 4-3 at the end of the 2nd.
Despite a quick, single-handled goal by Carbonetti in the third period, York left frustrated and disappointed, as Lyons caught York out of position a couple times, and left the game 5-6 Lyons.
York squares off against Plainfield on Friday, October 17 at Addison Ice during York Hockey’s annual Spirit Night and Breast Cancer Awareness event. The first 150 York students receive a free t-shirt and the club is hosting a raffle and accepting donations for the American Cancer Society. The junior varsity game starts at 7:05 p.m., followed by the varsity match at 8:40 p.m.