When Andrew Carroll scored 12 seconds into the second period, it was a sign of things to come for the Bethlehem hockey team.
Carroll’s marker kicked off a five-goal second period that propelled the Eagles (1-2-0) past Christian Brothers Academy 7-1 in Saturday afternoon’s Capital District High School Hockey League game at the Albany County Hockey Facility.
The result was a role reversal for Bethlehem, which suffered lopsided losses to Ithaca and Mamaroneck in the Shaker/Colonie Thanksgiving Tournament one week earlier.
`We played last weekend for a reason,` said Bethlehem coach Andre Rodrigue. `It was a learning tool and a bonding tool for us. This (league opener) was real important for our confidence.`
CBA (0-1-0) had an extra week of practice before meeting Bethlehem, and it appeared as if it paid off after the Brothers built a 1-0 lead on Sean Glennon’s shorthanded goal in the first period. But once Carroll scored, things quickly went downhill for CBA.
`I think we put a lot into the first period because it was the first period of our season,` said CBA coach Blaine Drescher. `The first shift (of the second period), I don’t know if we were ready for the drop of the puck because they scored 12 seconds into it.`
Zach Flagler gave Bethlehem the lead at the 4:50 mark of the second period when his shot scooted underneath CBA goaltender Kyle Stockman’s pads and into the net. Approximately three minutes later, Flagler redirected Nicholas Breiner’s shot past Stockman to make the score 3-1.
`The two goals couldn’t have happened to a nicer guy,` said Rodrigue. `He always works hard out there.`
Stockman’s woes continued less than two minutes after Flagler’s second goal when Breiner tallied to make it 4-1. Carroll then fed Chris Caswell for a goal at the 11:27 mark to complete Bethlehem’s five-goal burst.
`Kyle Stockman is a great goalie. We have to do a better job of covering guys defensively,` said Drescher.
Bethlehem goaltender Carl Cusack made several key saves early in the third period, and Caswell and Tim Verstandig added late goals to put CBA away.
`Cusack played great,` said Rodrigue. `He had a rough weekend last weekend (allowing 14 goals in two games), but he came ready to go Monday. It was important for him to put last weekend behind him and get his first win.`
`Cusack did a nice job of shutting us down,` said Drescher.
Stockman finished with 25 saves for CBA, but Drescher said he needs to see more out of his offense, which generated 32 shots on goal but only one marker.
`We’ve talked to our team about it being a three-period game,` said Drescher. `The first and third periods, it was pretty much 50-50. The second period, we just got off to a slow start and never got back into it.`
Bethlehem returns to action Wednesday when it hosts Guilderland/Mohonasen/Scotia-Glenville at the Bethlehem Area YMCA in their annual Wooden Skate game. It’s the start of a four-day stretch in which the Eagles play three times.
CBA’s next contest is Saturday against Glens Falls/Hudson Falls/South Glens Falls at the Albany County Hockey Facility.