E.O Smith Game
The Nighthawks lost a tough game against the E.O. Smith-Tolland-Windham Panthers Friday night. After a long two hour bus ride to the UCONN Campus the team came out flat in the first two periods. "Having the long ride, and then having to wait for their Senior night ceremony, then not having the ice cut/intermission between the first and second period hurt us. Mentally we were prepared for the game. Sitting for an extended period of time and then not having 15 minutes to regroup between periods 1 and 2 isn't the formula for a successful night. High School hockey games should always have two ice cuts. Our effort in the third period shows what the team is capable of, giving a "valiant" effort to come back from a 4-0 deficit." said Coach Esposito. Captain Francis Oggeri played an outstanding game, netting the Nighthawks first goal-shorthanded. Matt Wright also contributed with a 3rd period goal assisted by Oggeri. "You name it we had to endure alot of obstacles. It seemed there were too many Panthers on the ice more than once during the game." (One can conclude that Coach Esposito was referring to some missed calls. During the final 2 minutes Braeden Conlan was clearly interfered with in front of the net with what some would call a move taken out of the WWE signature moves textbook-which would have been a great scoring opportunity). When asked about the situation, Esposito remarked "When the opposing head coach brings it up at the end of the game, saying they (Panthers) got away with one, something probably happened on the ice that was missed, but that's the game. We expect the team to finish out the season playing every shift as if it were their last. The talent is on our bench, but, it's up to the players to demonstrate it for all three periods. Somehow it seems the bounces haven't gone our way. If the goal was 2 inches wider, our points would be up quite a bit," joked Esposito (referring to shots hitting the posts). "If there is going to be a time for the bounces to start going our way, it'd be great to get some for the next four games!"
