St. Regis Braves lose tough game against Kahnawake Mohawks

MASSENA -- In a tough game on Thursday, May 18, the St. Regis Braves dropped a 9-6 contest against the visiting Kahnawake Mohawks at Massena Arena.

The Mohawks with their solid stickwork and offensive coordination quickly took control of the game in the first period. Kahriios Montour posted the first goal of the game at 4:21, assisted by Karah Two Axe. Markie Kirby made it 2-0 59 seconds later on a play set up by Pete Jacobs and Montour. Blake Kenny put St. Regis in the game just 19 seconds later after taking a pass from Ty Thompson. At 8:24, Jacobs brought the Mohawks back to a two-goal lead, assisted by Kirby and Montour. Just under two minutes later, Andrew Suitor punched in the fourth Kahnawake goal unassisted. At 11:12, Jore Phoenix answered for the Braves, reducing the deficit to 4-2. Torrey Bigtree earned the assist. Two Axe scored the last goal of the first period with just under three minutes to go in the period with a helper from Montour.

The St. Regis defense and goaltender stepped up in the middle stanza, holding the Mohawks to three goals while Braves attackers fashioned three goals of their own. The teams traded goals, starting with Kahnawake's Kyle Alfred at 5:36 assisted by Kirby. Chiming in next was St. Regis's Angus Leborgne at 6:56 with a helper from Geoff McNulty. Just over a minute later, Ryan Hotaling added a point for the Mohawks on a play set up by Bradley McGowan. With 6:52 remaining, the Braves' McNulty scored after taking a pass from Bigtree. About 2:30 later, the Mohawks' Two Axe scored his team's last goal of the period with assists from Emmit Printup and Kirby. McNulty closed second period scoring unassisted with 1:32 before the buzzer.

In the third period, defensive efforts from both teams went from high gear to overdrive. There were only two goals scored. Trailing 8-5, the Braves' Jarrett Jacobs passed to Ty Thompson, who found the back of the Kahnawake net and putting their team in position to force overtime. With their goalie pulled and traded for a sixth attacker, St. Regis put heavy offensive pressure on the Mohawks. Corey Thompson railed a shot, which was denied by Mohawks goalie Angus Goodleaf. Ty Thompson quickly recovered the ball and fired. Goodleaf blocked that shot as well. The ball was passed back to Corey Thompson, and he dropped it. Kahnawake's Sose Regis was there to scoop up the loose ball and run it back for an empty-net goal with just under a minute left. Dozens of fans rose from their seats and left the arena following Regis's goal. The Mohawks then got possession and ran out two shot clocks to hold on to a 9-6 win.

St. Regis next plays the Caughnawaga Indians on May 27 at Kahnawake Sports Complex at 8 p.m.