Liam McNamara, Luke Anderson showcase strong chemistry to propel Smithtown/Hauppauge into first in Suffolk hockey

The Sachem crowd was roaring all game, but with just under four minutes left, Smithtown/Hauppauge’s Liam McNamara delivered a silencer.

Junior Luke Anderson had already connected with McNamara for a goal earlier in the game, and the duo struck again. Anderson delivered a backhanded pass to a trailing McNamara, who buried the goal to put the Bulls ahead by two in a 4-1 win over Sachem at The Rinx in Hauppauge on Sunday night.

“It was all for my team,” McNamara said. “I wanted to put it away for these guys, especially the seniors. It could be the last time they play Sachem, and this is a game I always look forward to.”

Sachem (11-4) entered averaging more than eight goals per game, the most on Long Island. Smithtown/Hauppauge (13-1) found a way to slow Sachem down. The Bulls held Sachem to its lowest goal total of the season.

“We have great goaltending, but we also have great team defense,” Smithtown/Hauppauge coach Mark Dubeau said. “We had possession of the puck, and if we control it, they can’t move it.”

Junior goalie Jacob Caradonna made several key saves on quality chances. Despite being outshot in the first period, he kept Sachem off the scoreboard.

“My defense was very good today,” Caradonna said. “They cleared rebounds and did a good job. Sachem’s only goal was on the power play — I felt I should’ve had that — but we played well and won the game.”

Brayden Beltrani opened the scoring after collecting a wide shot and skating up ice. He cut to the middle and maintained control before scoring with 8:16 left in the first period.

On a power play late in the period, Brett Spiers kept the puck in the zone and found Robert Auerbach. He set up McNamara, who found Anderson for a one-timer finish as time expired, giving Smithtown a 2-0 lead.

“I always know where Liam will be,” Anderson said. “And our chemistry on this team is amazing, we’re a family.”

Sachem’s Christian Pena scored on the power play in the second period to cut its deficit to one, but Sachem could not capitalize on additional chances.

“I was happy with the overall game, but we have to take advantage of opportunities,” Sachem coach George Alamia said. "We created chances but didn't execute."

McNamara’s goal made it 3-1, and Marcus Derrico added an empty-net goal to seal the win as Smithtown/Hauppauge moved atop the Suffolk County standings.