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RYE, N.Y. -- Kevin Fusco and his fellow Rye Town/Harrison hockey captains were in agreement concerning the teams start over the past couple of games.
We felt that we were lacking intensity and not skating to our full potential, said Fusco, a senior at Harrison. We know we have a good, hard-working team. We just needed to come out show what we can do when we skate to our full potential.
The Titans opened and closed strong in a 4-0 victory over Mount Pleasant in a Section 1 Conference III game at Playland Ice Casino Monday.
Rye Town/Harrison goalie Jaime Ketchabow stopped 26 shots to earn his second shutout in the teams third consecutive win. Fusco scored twice and Dean Brancucci and Evan Jacobs added a goal apiece.
The Titans, now 7-5, have won seven of their last nine games. The Titans play White Plains at Ebersole Ice Rink Thursday.
In the first period, we felt we dominated play, Fusco said.
Fusco opened the scoring at 3:24 as Mitchell Milbauer, Ian Base and Fusco rushed up ice. Bass, coming down the right wing, sent a pass to Milbauer, who, in turn, dropped a pass to Fusco in the high slot. His wrist shot, through a screened Mount Pleasant goalie Lucien Orza, gave the Titans a 1-0 lead.
Rye Town/Harrison kept the pressure on throughout the period and could have at least two or three more had it not been for Orza.
Mount Pleasant, which had six shots in the first period, rebounded in the second period with 12 shots, many of which were point blank. The Icecats generated two great chances on a power play, but Ketchabow thwarted Justin Casanelli from in front and took a Ben Scher back-hander off the mask.
Midway through the second period, with the Titans holding a 1-0 lead, Ketchabow made the save of the game. Jacob Kramer sent a pass from the left face-off circle to Vincent Cotucci on the far post, but Ketchabow slid to his left to make the save on Cotucci.
Its always good to know when you have a great goalie like Jaime back there, Fusco said. Jaime is one of our captains, too.
The Titans were not pleased with their effort in the second period.
We knew we needed to play even harder because they were going to want it even more, Fusco said. We had to be faster and stronger than them.
Rye Town/Harrison responded with an Evan Jacobs goal 53 seconds in. Steven Jacobson picked off a clearing pass and fed Jacobs at the left point. The defenseman skated to his left and unleashed a wrist shot from between the face-off circles. Two and half minutes later, Dean Brancucci, assisted by Sal Giacomo, raised the lead to 3-0.
Mount Pleasant 0 0 0 -- 0 Rye Town/Harrison 1 0 3 -- 4
Goals -- Kevin Fusco 2, Dean Brancucci, Evan Jacobs. Assists -- Sal Giacomo, Brian Kelly, Mitchell Milbauer, Ian Bass, Steven Jacobson. Saves -- MP: Lucien Orza 41; RT/H Jaime Ketchabow 26.
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