Malden/East Boston Bantam AAA met South Boston Bantam AAA in a rare Wednesday night match at the Porrazzo Memorial rink in East Boston on October 16.
In the crosstown rivalry, the early play was slow and sloppy, with back and forth action through most of the first period until Ryan Noonan created an opportunity with some physical play at center ice. He ended up with the puck in front of the net and the skill to put it behind the Shamrock goaltender to give the M.E.B. Mustangs the lead with a little more than two minutes to play in the period. Though South Boston was called for a tripping penalty with 1:55 left in the period, M.E.B. could not capitalize on the power play, and the period ended with the Mustangs up 1-0.
The second period opened with more tough play, but James Pandolfo was able to score at 1:11 into the period on a loose puck in front of the Shamrocks' net off a hard fought effort by Nick Miller to put the home team up 2-0. South Boston fought back and created several scoring chances, capitalizing on one at 4:33 into the second to bring the score to 2-1 in favor of M.E.B. The hockey action continued to be rough and tough, with a lot of turnovers and the M.E.B. squad on the giving end of many of those. With a little more than three minutes to play in the second, Louis Staffieri poured on some speed through center ice and lit the lamp for the Mustangs on a feed from Ryan Noonan from the M.E.B. blue line. At the second break, M.E.B. was on top of South Boston by a score of 3-1.
In the third, the M.E.B. Bantams went down a man at 1:06 into the period when Noonan was called for slashing on a hit at the M.E.B. blue line. The advantage gave the Shamrocks just the opportunity they needed and shortly moved to within one on a power play goal at the 9:30 mark of the period. Not long after, and with momentum on their side, the Shamrocks charged down the ice on a scoring bid that was stifled by Zach Rich, but he paid the price with a slashing call against him in the effort. Another power play and another goal for South Boston tied the game just seven seconds into the penalty, adding a little more sting to the initial call from the referee.
With more back and forth play and more scoring chances for both sides, the goalies kept the score tied until another effort from Nick Miller feeding James Pandolfo gave the M.E.B. Mustangs the lead again with just 2:46 to play in the game. South Boston was also called for a roughing penalty and additional major at the time of the goal. The Shamrocks continued to drive hard, pulling their goalie in the final minute, which tempted the M.E.B. Mustangs, who could not keep the puck in their control long enough to get the empty-netter. The play was tense in the final seconds, with a face-off in the M.E.B. zone, and continuous pressure from South Boston. In the end, Malden/East Boston prevailed, with a final score of 4-3.
