SUNDAYS #1 vs. RINK RATS:

(vol. 22S, no. 1; newsletter by k.r.)
The new Sunday season began this past weekend for the defending Cup-Champion Coastal Pirates. For the first game of the 10-week Summer league, the Pirates lined-up against a Rink Rats roster which boasted — up until Sunday at least — the offensive juggernaut known as Brian Newcomb. Yes, the same Brian Newcomb who plays for the Pirates from time to time is now a Rat. The game began with a slow pace, but it was soon evident that the Pirates would control this one. The Pirates played the first 18:00 minutes with Mike and Keith playing ironman “D” until Kevin joined in (and, yes, the “Fines” page reflects Kevin's late arrival even though he was stranded in Garden State Parkway hell). The forwards were shorthanded as well, with only Russ, Scott LeMatty, Chris, Glenn, and Ralz skating (both Scooby and Bobby Currao — in his Pirate Summer debut — were AWOL). Scott LeMatty would tally five points on the evening, and both Keith and Russ would post four points each. Although the Pirates would dominate on the scoreboard, it would take nearly half the 1st period until they talled their first goal when Scott put in his first of three on a feed from Russ. That goal seemed to settle the Pirates down and whatever opportunities the Rats had — which were few and far between — were turned back by Harris. Glenn Farkas, on another superb pass from Russ, would make it 2-0 as he tore a slapshot five-hole. Although we didn't know it at the time, Glenn's goal would stand as the GWG. Scott closed-out the 1st period's scoring (assist to Keith) to give the Men In White a comfortable 3-0 lead at the buzzer.

Unlike the 1st period, in the final 22:00 minutes the Pirates came out swinging. They would tally two goals within the opening :90 seconds to widen the lead to 5-0. First, a feed from Keith would allow Scott to quickly complete his hattrick (editor's note: Scott now stands alone in third place among Pirate hattrick leaders, trailing just Jimmy Ferraro and Russ); next, Scott would assist Kevin. Not to be left out, Russ later added two goals to bring the score to 7-0 (assists to Keith on the pair and Scott on the first one). The only blemish of the evening was that the Pirates could not hold the shutout for Harris who really deserved it after keeping us in so many games recently; that final goal of the night came off a rebound with just :11 seconds remaining. But at least it wasn't scored by Brian.
date of game: 6.13.05