Ward off Disaster
Northport blows early lead, comes back to win in OT on Valenti Goal
Story and Photos by Steven Zaitz
The Northport Tigers blew a first half four goal lead but came back to beat their most hated rival – The Ward Melville Patriots – in overtime 7-6.
Midfielder Giancarlo Valenti got the sudden death tally with 30 seconds to go in the second overtime session.
Northport led 3-0 after one quarter and 4-1 at halftime, but Ward kept chipping away – until the unthinkable struck. The Patriots overtook the Tigers with 2:12 left to go in the third quarter when Patriot middie Brody Morgan put W.M. ahead 5-4.
Nothport was still down by one goal with less than a minute to go when freshman Luke Loiacono swooped around the net of GK Charles Giachetti and flicked it past Giachetti for the tying goal with less than 30 seconds remaining in regulation.
Giachetti made several sparking saves for the Patriots in the first four minute sudden death overtime period – one in particular on a rising rip at fairly close range by Jack ‘Attack’ Deliberti.
But Valenti would end it with 34 ticks left in OT number 2 and in doing so, pull the Tigers to within one game of Ward Melville and two back of first place Connetquot. Tiger GK Mike Tittmann made eight saves for the victory.
Northport has one game remaining – today at Riverhead.
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