MAHOPAC, N.Y. — The Mahopac varsity hockey team beat the Cortlandt Rebels 5-4 in overtime on Sunday, Jan. 12, completing a strong week for the Wolf Pac, who beat Pearl River 5-2 on Saturday, Jan. 11, and Rye Town/Harrison 5-3 on Tuesday, Jan. 7—bringing the team’s record to 10-2.
Alex Wanner, the senior co-captain, and junior Ronan Beany scored two goals each, and junior Joey Minnix scored one. Wanner also contributed an assist, along with junior Ryan Danahy, who had two. Eighth-grader Brennan Lundy and senior co-captain Christian Martirano each recorded one assist. Liam Robinson made 17 saves in goal.
For Cortlandt, Aidan Dzubak, John Gannon, and Jake DiBenedetto scored. Dzubak also earned an assist, along with DiBenedetto, Nick Garofalo, Gannon, and Sean Foley. Brandon DiBenedetto had 27 saves.
Mahopac head coach Tim Donaghy said the matchup marked Cortlandt’s senior night, and “they came out with a great effort and really wanted a win for their seniors, but we played the spoiler.”
With Mahopac down by two after two periods, it looked like the Rebels would have their way. But the Wolf Pac pushed hard for the tie—and eventually the win.
Donaghy said the Mahopac Maniacs booster club came out and gave the team the boost they needed for a third-period comeback to tie in regulation.
“Alex Wanner got a breakaway about two minutes into OT,” Donaghy said, adding that the feeling on the bench was that “he’s got this. When he buried it, the bench and the crowd exploded.”
The passion of the school community is something Donaghy appreciates.
Wanner called the game “electric.”
“Being able to come back from being down two goals in the third is the best feeling a hockey player can ask for, especially when you score in overtime,” he said.
The win concluded a strong week for the Wolf Pac, which beat Pearl River 5-2 on Saturday and Rye Town/Harrison on Jan. 7. Donaghy said the win against Rye Town/Harrison showed the team is getting stronger.
“This game was a step up in competition, so a big win for the team to build confidence,” he said after the Jan. 7 game. “We took a lead, they came back to tie, and we were able to right the ship and come away with the win.
“The team really believes in each other, that they will get the job done,” he added.
Mahopac next will face Carmel for the Wolf Pac’s senior night game at Brewster Ice Arena at 6:15 p.m. Friday, Jan. 24.
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