Updated 10 a.m.:
Senior winger Vin DiRisio registered a hat trick Tuesday night – with all three goals coming in his team’s six-goal second period – to lead Batavia Notre Dame United to a 10-1 victory over the WFL Panthers in Section V hockey at the Geneva Recreation Complex.
DiRisio upped his season total to nine goals, one behind senior line mate Gavin Schrader, as United raised its record to 3-2.
Last night, United unleashed 49 shots at a pair of WFL goaltenders – scoring twice in the first period, breaking the contest open with six in the middle period and twice in the third period. United goalie Courtney Schum stopped 21 of 22 shots, yielding WFL’s only goal early in the second period that cut BND’s lead to 2-1.
Senior Zack Eschberger, center on the first line with DiRisio and Schrader, returned to action and promptly put the visitors on the board at 3:54 of the first period, with assists from Schrader and junior Ronin Hofmaster.
"It was great having our co-captain Zack Eschberger back in the lineup for the first time this season," Coach Marc Staley said. "He gave us a really nice boost offensively with his energy and speed."
Schrader made it 2-0 eight minutes later on a power play goal with Hofmaster and DiRisio assisting.
Following a goal by the Panthers’ Lucas Springer early in the second period, BND took control with six goals over the next 11 minutes – the three by DiRisio and one each from Hofmaster, freshman Brady Johnson and Eschberger. Jameson Motyka had three assists and Noah Hudson two.
Schrader and Motyka rounded out the scoring with goals nine seconds apart in the first minute of the third period, with Eschberger and Johnson assisting, respectively.
"We controlled the puck very well as a team last night and our offense clearly can be lethal," Staley said. "There are still a number of things we need to tighten up on, however, in transition and in our own end."
For the season, Schrader has 10 goals and 10 assists, DiRisio nine goals and seven assists, Hofmaster five goals and seven assists, and Motyka four goals and seven assists.
Staley said his team will have to be sharp against strong competition at this weekend's Dave McCarthy Memorial Christmas Tournament at the Batavia Ice Arena.
"The Dave McCarthy Memorial Christmas Tournament has a great tradition of bringing in some of the best teams in the state. With Fulton, Webster Schroeder, and Bishop Timon coming in, I expect some great hockey to be played."
On Friday, Bishop Timon takes on Webster Schroeder at 6 p.m. and Batavia Notre Dame will face off against Fulton at 8 p.m. On Saturday, the consolation game is at noon and the championship game is at 3 p.m. Admission for all the games is $5 (the charge for seniors is $3). There is no charge for those 18 and under.
