Karmic justICE (Adirondack @ LaSalle, 2/16/19)

Five days ago, LaSalle closed the regular season in the CDHSHL with a 5-0 loss to Adirondack, a game moved forward a day due to a winter storm that would arrive the next day. To say that the Cadets came out flat on Monday would be a gross understatement.

Tonight, the Rivermen came to Troy for the rematch in a play-in game leading to the playoffs. Just getting to Hudson Valley Community College was a struggle for the players, as there were transportation issues forcing a hour-long delay before the start of the game. The funny thing was, coach Mike Di Fiore and his staff were already on-site, when common sense says the players & coaches travel together.

Roughly seven minutes into the first period, Sebastian Geiger jammed one under the glove of goaltender Ben Di Fiore, the coach's son, to give LaSalle a 1-0 lead. Two minutes later, Taylor Nitz cashed in a power play goal to give the hosts a 2-0 advantage going into the first intermission.

In the second period, Nitz struck again, going top shelf on Di Fiore to increase the lead to 3-0. Less than a minute later, after Reid Murray was sent to the penalty box for interference, Nitz completed the hat trick by whistling one more past Di Fiore, virtually in the same spot. An Adirondack timeout prompted the LaSalle student section to launch into a chant of "Pull your goalie!". Mike Di Fiore didn't take the bait, and left Ben in the game for the rest of the night.

In the third period, Willis Bickford broke the shutout with a power play goal of his own, but it was too little, and too late. Nic Pauley answered with a power play of his own to end the scoring, and LaSalle advances to face Shenendehowa in the next round with a 5-1 win.
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Hoop du jour: Women's basketball sectional results:

Form held in both Classes B & C tonight.

Class B:

Tamarac 45, Broadalbin-Perth 22.
Hudson 60, Ravena 39.
Fonda-Fultonville 58, Voorheesville 42.
Schalmont 42, Watervliet 35.
Mechanicville 64, Glens Falls 34.
Ichabod Crane 37, Cobleskill-Richmondville 34.
Mekeel Christian Academy 60, Cohoes 45.
Johnstown 54, Albany Academy For Girls 27.

Class C:

Cambridge 66, Canajoharie 30.
Greenwich 51, Duanesburg 32.
Warrensburg 49, Mayfield 31.
Berne Knox-Westerlo 49, Chatham 39.
Hoosic Valley 55, Schoharie 21.
Hoosick Falls 65, Middleburgh 48.
Maple Hill 53, Stillwater 40.
Lake George 73, Rensselaer 52.
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Back on the ice, Burnt Hills-Ballston Spa ended the Capital District Jets' putrid season, crushing the Jets, 9-0. The Spartan Scotties will play Saratoga next.