Rangers give top-ranked Eagles a scare
Irondequoit had lost only one game all season and Spencerport had yet to win and had tied two. But on any given day ... the Rangers gave the state's top-ranked ice hockey team all they could handle for half the game before succumbing 3-0 at Lakeshore Rinks.
Spencerport goaltender Roger Youmans came up with several big saves and the defense of Josh Nau, Jani Kaasinen, Steve Balcerak and Steve Vragel frustrated the Eagles by jumping in front of passes and deflecting shots wide through the midway point of the second period. Irondequoit broke through on a power play goal that found the top corner of the net by Andy Orsini at the 13:43 mark.
The Rangers came close to tying the game in the last minute of the second when Greg Wojcik set up Luciano Petrella and then Nick Petrella had chances but couldn't capitalize.
Luciano Petrella and captain Chris Farnsworth each had their shots stopped early in the third before the Eagles made it 2-0 just over three minutes into the period on a deflected tip-in. They capped off the scoring with an empty-net goal in the final minute with the Rangers on a 6-on-4 power play due to an Eagles penalty and the goaltender pulled for the extra attacker.
Youmans made 39 saves in net for the Rangers, who have allowed the Eagles just six goals in two games including two empty-netters. The win marked Irondequoit's 500th win in their 36-year hockey program's history.