John Jay Loses Four Goal Lead in 7-5 Defeat to Horace Greeley

On December 15 at the Brewster Ice Arena, it looked like a Friday night party when John Jay treated their fans to a 5-1 second period lead. But being fashionable late actually proved the difference for the other guests on the invite list.

The game winner coming with 21 seconds left in regulation, the Quakers’ six unanswered goals really burned and sent the Wolves home wagging.

Nonetheless, while the opening play went back and forth, Ryan Marcus foretold what was to come six minutes into the game. He rushed the zone, circumnavigated around the goal and shot one through the crease.

A lot more Marcus on the way, he put his first shot on Erin Samuelson when Brody Stogsdill found him out front. Denied for now, John Jay would obviously get their noise makers out first.

Ryan Hasapis rushed across the blue line, and with the defense drawn, his cross ice pass hit an open Brendan Asta. Left one on one with the goalie, Asta put on a little juke and found the net at 9:34.

Two minutes later, Asta was at it again. This time he got the puck ahead to Colman Rice, and he beat goalie Johnny Marlatt.

Down two, Greeley kept at it anyway. Stogsdill got the steal on defense, sent the puck ahead to Logan Arfin, and the onslaught gave Samuelson plenty of heat before she covered the scrum at 6:25

Still, John Jay ended up on the power play and made good. Asta shot, and Julian Pedreyra got the tip for a 3-0 lead at 3:01.

So into the second, an easy win looked in order, and a power play for Greeley at 13:35, seemed no reason for concern. But Ellis Adams got the puck to Patrick Ula on the right, and he flipped it over Samuelson’s shoulder.

Even so, Greeley didn’t do themselves any favors when they got hit with a major at 12:40. Holding their ground for a while, Greeley was sunk when Asta went transcontinental. A coast to coast rush, he hit Hasapis cutting across, and the chip in gave Jay a 4-1 lead at 10:22.

Unfortunately, the beginning of the end was on the way. Julian Pedreyra assisted Riley McMahon at 8:52 and despite the 5-1 lead, the downhill trajectory began with a ping.

Ula hit the post at 6:30 to sound the alarm, and 26 seconds later, Marcus’ shot didn’t make a sound. Silenced by the net, the three goal difference wouldn’t last, and a basketball like fast break was next

Down the left, Marcus dropped the puck for Ula, and he hit the open man on the right. Stogsdill again, the defense was scrambled, the net was exposed, and the Quaker made the easy layup with 24 seconds left.

Two goals still separating, Greeley didn’t seem to notice, and the sound of metal was no bother again. Marcus seared the crossbar at 12:40, and the third degree burns were soon to be reserved for the net.

Almost four minutes later to be exact, he kindled among the mess in front of the net and muscled the puck in at 8:44.

A 5-4 game now, Marcus kept on. He got the puck ahead, but Samuelson was able to snuff out the resulting one on one at 5:38.

A John Jay reprieve almost rang true, though. Rice raced down the right, and unfortunately made the wrong kind of noise too. He hit the post at 5:25 and essentially the bell had tolled.

Marcus would cruise the right and beat Samuelson for the tie at 3:59. Even so, the John Jay goalie was there with another mess around her at the one minute mark, but Greeley had been at the well too often.

Ula shot and Max Schlanger got the tip in with 21 seconds left and the empty netter solidified the heartbreaking John Jay defeat.