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March 25, 2007

Smithfield forces Game Three

PROVIDENCE -- Most teams would buckle trailing by a game in the best-of-three Division II state championship series if they fell behind by two goals in Game Two.
But not Smithfield.

The Sentinels were in that exact same position last year in the semifinals of the Division II-Small playoffs but rallied to beat Cumberland on their way to winning their sixth state title in school history.

That experience helped Smithfield yesterday as the Sentinels rallied from a two-goal deficit to even the series at one game apiece with a 3-2 victory over Ponaganset in Game Two.

Forward turned defenseman Joseph Gonsalves scored the game-winning goal 6:27 into the third period to force a deciding Game Three which will be held tomorrow night.

Gonsalves, surrounded by three Ponaganset defenders in front of the Chieftain net who all expected one of their teammates to make the play, scored the biggest goal of the Sentinels’ season when he poked the puck between Ponaganset goalie Anthony Fernandes’ (32 saves) legs and into the net to score the game-winner and stun the Ponaganset fans.

The deciding game will be held tomorrow night at Schneider Arena.

Ponaganset star Derek Rogala scored off the opening faceoff to give Smithfield a 1-0 lead, 11 seconds into the game. It looked like Ponaganset was going to run away with the game when Ryan Chelo blasted in a rebound off of a Rogala shot with 2:32 left in the first period to extend Ponaganset’s advantage to 2-0.

But Smithfield’s leading-scorer Nick DiCarlo answered for the Sentinels 16 seconds later by going top-shelf to slash the Chieftains’ lead to 2-1.

Smithfield was awarded a penalty shot after a Ponaganset infraction with 25 seconds left in the first period. Daniel Sleboda took the shot. He faked right and shot left to beat Fernandes and even the score.

Smithfield survived an early 5-on-3 Ponaganset power play in the second period by playing great defense and that allowed Gonsalves the opportunity to score the game-winning goal in the third session. Smithfield goalie Nathan York made 20 saves.

First period: P, Derek Rogala (Daniel Foster, Samuel Tridenti), :11; P, Ryan Chelo (Rogala, Matt Dunn); 12:25; S, Nick DiCarlo (Daniel Sleboda), 12:41; S, Sleboda (penalty shot), 14:35; Penalties: none.
Second period: none; Penalties: S 2-4, P 1-2.
Third period: S, Joseph Gonsalves (Corey Nangle), 6:27; Penalties: P 1-2; S 1-2. Saves: Anthony Fernandes, P, 32; Nathan York, S, 20

--ROB LEE

Posted by Chris Venditto  at 5:23 PM to High School | Permalink

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