WARRIORS BLANK TITANS IN BATTLE OF WEBSTER

Nov 30, 2022

Over the next several weeks, the Rochester Americans will be front and center on the local high school hockey scene as part of a weekly series that will feature the latest news and notes, scores and stats of select Section V games around the Greater Rochester Area.

The first High School Game of the Week featured a goaltending duel between Colin Smith of Webster Schroeder and Jackson Gruttadauria of Webster Thomas Tuesday night at Webster Ice Arena. In front of capacity crowd between the two cross-town rivals, Warriors sophomore Antony Swinson’s goal early in the contest was the difference in a 1-0 victory.

Webster Schroeder’s offense came from Swinson’s goal with 15:44 left in the first period and was assisted by sophomore Jason Simon and senior Evan SanSoucie. The win was the first of the season for the Warriors as well Smith’s.

Webster Thomas, who looks to defend its 2022 Section V Class B Championship, suffered its second loss of the young season as they have dropped back-to-back games to begin the campaign.

In the first period, Schroeder was pressured and had the puck inside its own zone before SanSoucie began a play to the right of his net. The defenseman sprung Simon in transition as he cut through the center of the ice. As Simon entered the offensive zone, he drifted to his right and fired a shot off the pads of Smith. Swinson gathered the rebound and buried the loose puck into a yawning net to open the scoring less than two minutes into the contest.

Neither team was able to solve the opposing goaltender and the score remained 1-0 at the intermission.

Thomas drew the first penalty of the night midway through the second period, and despite numerous chances and looks, Smith kept the score 1-0.

The score remained unchanged entering the final frame and again in the third, Thomas earned another power-play chance.

Though Thomas was unable to find the equalizer, the physicality picked up over the period. Schroeder had a few chances to add to its lead, but Gruttadauria kept the Warriors off the board.

 

As the clock was dwindling down and facing a 1-0 deficit, the Titans pilled Gruttadauria for the final 65 seconds, however, their bid fell short as Smith held on for the shutout and victory.

Webster Thomas will look to build on its strong opening win as the Titans travel to Northtown Center at Amherst for an opponent to be determined at 8:00 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 2 while Webster Schroeder meets up with Thousand Island at Ogdensburg Free Academy for a 7:00 p.m. face-off.

Next week’s High School’s Game of the Week will feature Penfield and Victor in a Section V showdown on Dec. 6 from Webster Ice Arena.