Long Beach takes Game 1 of Michelino Finals

Long Beach came from behind to beat Syosset, 4-2, in Game 1 of the Michelino Finals Tuesday night at Bethpage Arena.

The Marines scored three goals in the third period after trailing 2-1 after the second.

“It was a back-and-forth chess match tonight,” Long Beach coach Joe Brand said. “We got our game going [in the third period] and just found some open ice.”

JT Forkin scored the Marines’ first two goals, Thomas McGovern had the go-ahead goal midway through the third, and Liam Pues added the fourth goal with four minutes left in the game to secure the win.

For Syosset, Corey Hoffman had a goal and two assists and Stefan Lynch had a goal in the losing effort. Syosset coach Richard Goldstein said his team did not play physical enough, but was confident the Braves would bounce back in game two.

“We have to force the play and do the things we’ve done all year,” Goldstein said. “Long Beach fought and battled hard and that’s that. It’s not a one-and-done situation, though, so we live to fight another day.”

Brand said that winning the first game of the series was crucial.

“Every team’s goal in a three-game series is to grab the first one,” Brand said. “We stayed patient and finally in the third period we broke them a little bit.”  

Game two of the best-of-three series will be Wednesday night at 9 p.m at Bethpage.