Chaminade traveled across New York this week to play a non-league opponent, Pelham, on Saturday; they then had back-to-back games on Monday and Tuesday nights, facing off against non-league opponent Portledge as well as CHSHL foe Stepinac.
In their second game of the year, the Flyers tasted defeat for the first time this season, losing 4-2 against public school powerhouse Pelham.
Early in the game, Pelham took advantage of a Chaminade mistake to strike first. The Flyers would respond, producing some good chances among their 10 shots on goal, but they weren't able to find the back of the net and were down 1-0 after the first.
The scoreboard remained vacant for the Flyers in the second period until Jack Petrone received a perfect pass from Lucas Caballero and fired one past the Pelham netminder to tie things, 1-1. However, as the period continued, the Pelham offense went on a tear, scoring two goals late in the second to head into intermission up two.
They added to their tally early in the third period to make it 4-1. The Flyers responded quickly with a power play goal from Richard L'Esperance, but Chaminade couldn't muster enough offense to make a comeback, losing 4-2.
"We had some great chances," admitted assistant coach Vincent Capasso. "[We] just could not find a way to break through their defense."
Chaminade would not let the loss hold them down, however. They responded in a big way two days later against another non-league opponent, Portledge, defeating them 5-3.
Playing on an outdoor rink, the Flyers offense exploded in the first period, scoring four unanswered goals in just six minutes, with Michael Johnson starting the goal party for Chaminade. Strong play in net from Chase Martone had the Flyers buzzing into intermission with a 4-0 lead.
Portledge scored a goal early in the second to cut the lead to three, but Brody Murray would ice any momentum the Panthers had with a tally late in the second period to give Chaminade a 5-1 lead heading into the third.
Portledge put together an offensive flurry late, netting two goals 50 seconds apart with about five minutes left in the third, but it was too little, too late, as Chaminade came away with a 5-3 win.
The Flyers came away with another victory the next day, defeating the Steppinac Crusaders 1-0 in a battle of two goaltenders.
Right from the jump, Chaminade was the aggressor, tallying 11 shots on goal in the first period, many of which were great scoring chances. However, the game remained deadlocked at the end of the first.
The second period featured more of the same for Chaminade, who put 15 shots on net, but still weren't able to find a goal.
It wasn't until the third that Chaminade finally struck, as Nicholas Juliano tickled the twine to give the Flyers the game's first lead. From there, goaltender Nathaniel Pittman led Chaminade to its first shutout of the year, as the team defeated Stepinac, 1-0. Chaminade registered 36 shots on goal compared to Stepinac's 12.
"We both had numerous chances, but goaltending was the story," Coach Capasso said after the game. "Credit to Pittman for keeping us in this game."
With the win, Chaminade moved to 3-1 on the year - a definitively strong start to the season. Next up, the Flyers take their home ice for the first time this evening at 7:15, as they host the defending league champions, Monsignor Farrell, in what is sure to be a closely contested affair.
