MARAUDERS SHUT OUT IN NISS TOURNEY OPENER

Jamestown, New York - St Joe’s has been looking to win a Governor’s Cup since the tournament’s inception in 2006. One of their Monsignor Martin rivals, St Francis, won the inaugural tournament.

In the 2024 edition of the tournament it’s going to be an uphill climb for the Marauders after their first game of the preliminary round against the Upper St Clair Panthers (Pittsburgh, PA), as they fell 3-0, only picking up a ½ point in the tournament standings.

The two teams played a very even first period, and would end the initial frame knotted at 0. The Panthers, however, would capitalize on their opportunities in the 2nd period.

After forcing a turnover in their own end, USC came away with a 2 on 1 and Luke Fisher buried his chance into the wide open net, giving the Panthers the icebreaking goal. Six minutes later, St Joe’s would be called for an illegal check to the head, and Nico Galardini would pick the corner on the stick side of goaltender James Materese to double the Panther lead to 2-0. St Clair would take that lead into the locker room.

St Joe’s would get a power play less than five minutes into the third period, but were unable to capitalize on the man advantage. The Marauders would draw another penalty with 5:42 to go, but the Panthers would strike again, shorthanded, Drew Lisak delivered the dagger as he was left alone in the slot to give Upper St Clair a 3-0 lead, and that score would hold all the way until the final buzzer.

With Upper St Clair receiving 4 1⁄2 points from this game, it puts them in a favorable position heading into the Saturday slate of preliminary games, with all sixteen teams in action twice on Saturday ahead of Sunday morning’s semifinals and the final Sunday afternoon.

Photo Gallery By Alex Kolstee/WNYAthletics