Hughes wins it for Comsewogue in 3rd OT

For a split second, Comsewogue's Tom Hughes thought the game was over when his teammate Kenny Scotland fired a shot from the slot that appeared to beat Sayville goalie Pat Fleming. But the ball clanged off the post, and that's when Hughes sprang into action.

"Kenny took a great shot, but after it hit the pipe there was a loose ball," Hughes said. "I stripped my man and picked up the ground ball. I knew that was my man and they didn't slide, so I went to the goal. I took two steps, wound up and shot it hip-high opposite his stick."

Hughes' second goal of the game and 27th of the season with 2:53 left in the third overtime gave the visiting Warriors a dramatic 10-9 victory over Sayville Wednesday in a key Suffolk Division II game. Comsewogue remained unbeaten at 9-0, 6-0 in league, while the Golden Flashes fell to 6-2, 5-2.

"It's the first game-winning goal I've ever had in overtime in my high school career," said Hughes, a senior. "I can't even describe the feeling."

"What a game!" Comsewogue coach Pete Mitchell said. "It's always tough when we play these guys."

The Warriors continued their season-long dominance in the first half, scoring four goals in the second quarter. Matt Cossidente's blast on a feed from Justin Carlson with 12.6 seconds left provided a 6-2 halftime advantage.

Sayville responded quickly. Goals by Dan Koehler (a hat trick) and Jake Sichenzia (goal, three assists) in 50 seconds cut it to 6-4. The Golden Flashes completed their gritty comeback when Andrew Gonzalez scored his second low-to-high rocket 2:24 into the fourth quarter to tie it at 8.

SEE PHOTOSComsewogue 10, Sayville 9

Scotland scored unassisted with 4:27 left for a 9-8 Comsewogue advantage, but Koehler's shot from the slot on a feed from Conner O'Neil tied it once more with 3:31 to play in the fourth.

Comsewogue goalie John Eickwort robbed Zach Sirico and Koehler with point-blank saves in the second OT. Sayville defenseman Steven Ferreira, the record-setting All-Long Island quarterback, blanketed the Warriors until they called a timeout after Mike Krisa's third overtime faceoff win.

"We ran a set play for Kenny to circle in front and use his height," Mitchell said of the rugged 6-4 football player headed to LIU Post. "We had the matchup we wanted and he had a good look. I thought Kenny's shot was in."

Instead it was Hughes who came up huge.