Greeley-Jay's comeback bid falls short against Pawling

BREWSTER, N.Y. - On Friday, Jan. 16, Greeley-Jay hosted Pawling at Brewster Ice Arena in a game defined by constant momentum swings and little separation between the two teams. Pawling jumped out to a 2–0 lead, Greeley-Jay battled back, and with 11 minutes remaining the score stood at 5–4. Unfortunately for the home side, the final momentum shift proved decisive.

While killing a power play, Pawling managed a clear that Jonathan Marlatt went back to retrieve. As he attempted to backhand the puck forward, Tanner Waldorf stepped into the lane. Alone in front of an empty net, Waldorf capitalized, and Pawling closed out the final 5:49 to seal the win.

Pawling set the early tone, peppering Marlatt with shots in the opening minute. Julian Cubic and Jacob Bischoff both generated quality chances, while Jake Geiger’s rush at 13:35 kept Marlatt under pressure. Greeley-Jay soon found its footing, earning the game’s first power play and nearly converting when Brody Stogsdill found Henry Millhon in front, but William Hollywood made the stop.

Both teams traded one-on-one chances as the period wore on. Bischoff came closest for Pawling at 9:12, jamming at a loose puck in the crease that refused to cross the line. Greeley-Jay then struck first. At 6:45, Freddie Gross centered to Ryan Marcus, who tested Hollywood before Pawling responded with offense of its own. Geiger scored at 4:40 on a loose puck in front, then added a second goal just 23 seconds later off a centering pass from Travis Baier.

Greeley-Jay responded early in the second period, applying sustained pressure in the offensive zone. Freddie Jones’ backhand slid through the crease before circling back to him, and he found Millhon to cut the deficit at 12:30. Moments later, Stogsdill burst up ice, deked Hollywood and buried the equalizer, tying the game.

The pace never slowed. Waldorf, Millhon and Brendan Asta all narrowly missed during a flurry of chances before Pawling regained the lead on a power play goal by Chris Scirocco at 9:27. Greeley-Jay answered again, with Marcus repeatedly slicing through the defense, and Frankie Epstein tied the game at three with 24.2 seconds remaining after a centering pass from behind the net.

Pawling regained control early in the third when Waldorf converted a point-blank feed at 15:54. Greeley-Jay pressed relentlessly, with Gross, Marcus and Asta creating chances, but Hollywood stood firm. Eventually, Millhon broke through, scoring on his own rebound to pull the home team back within one.

Pawling answered once more, hemming Greeley-Jay in its zone for an extended stretch before the home team finally iced the puck at 8:36. Greeley-Jay earned a late power play and nearly tied the game when Millhon ripped a backhand from close range, but Hollywood made the save.

After offsetting penalties halted play, Pawling cleared the zone and ran out the clock, bringing an end to a wildly entertaining, back-and-forth contest.