Neville and Scampoli Lift Aces Over Rockhoppers 3-2 in Game One

The Brooklyn Aces’ Andrew Scampoli has been hearing all season from his family that he’d make a better forward than defenseman.

Tonight, he proved them right, scoring the game-winning goal with 4:26 left in overtime, giving the Aces a 3-2 win over the New Jersey Rockhoppers in the first game of the best of three EPHL Championship Series.

“I called for it and as soon as I did, it was on my stick,” said Scampoli. “I knew if I got it off quick I had it and luckily I put it right where I wanted.”

However, while Scampoli’s heroics gave the Aces the win, goaltender Eddie Neville was the real star, making 35 saves, including 13 in the third period to keep the Aces in the game.

“Eddie was the man tonight,” said Aces head coach Chris Firriolo. “New Jersey was dynamite tonight and made him work. It was one of the top three hockey games I’ve been a part of in the 14-years I’ve been involved in this sport. Neville was phenomenal.”

Things were fast and frenetic in the first, with both teams playing feisty and intense hockey. Both goaltenders made several quality saves early on, but Drew Sanders scored at 6:47 to give the New Jersey Rockhoppers an early 1-0 lead, beating Neville on a snap shot inside the right circle.

The Aces answered back at 15:42, after EPHL rookie of the year C.J. Tozzo tied the game on a blast from the top of the left circle.

“I was coming up the ice and I had a chance to come up the blue line,” said Tozzo. “After that I just decided to try and rip one past his glove.”

Despite the game continuing at a breakneck pace throughout the second, both Nick Niedert and Neville were on top of their games and kept the game deadlocked at 1-1 going into the third.

Things changed quickly in the third however, as only 16 seconds in, Chris Ferazzoli tallied to give New Jersey a 2-1 lead. About five minutes later at 14:41, Jesse Felten tapped in a rebound after a Miller shot from the point that tied that game at 2-2 and got the crowd back involved.

“That puck hit about four people. I think it hit me in the face too,” said Felten. “When it finally got to the ice, I just slapped at it and it went in. It felt great.”

The Aces then got themselves into penalty trouble a few times the rest of the period, but were able to kill them off and keep the game at 2-2. Neville was the team’s best penalty killer during that span and made a remarkable save on Pat Serpico with six seconds left, sending the game into overtime.

“I just knew I had to get my body in front of that puck,” said Neville. “I had to get my boys into overtime.”

Once in the extra frame, the Aces took advantage of an effective forecheck, as Scampoli had an opportunity to shoot after the Aces hounded the puck in the New Jersey end. Wasting no time after Felten drew a pair of defenders and Tozzo slid him the puck from behind the net, Scampoli laced a wrist shot past a shocked Niedert, giving the Aces a 3-2 win in game one.

Winning their first game in over a week, Brooklyn seemingly has it’s confidence back and just at the right time, but knows they have work ahead of themselves tomorrow for game two.

“We really needed this,” said Firriolo.

Notes-

Miller led all skaters with two assists.

Tozzo and Felten both had seven shots on goal.

Neville made 35 saves on 37 shots and dedicated the game to his grandmother, who had heart surgery yesterday.

Photos by Patrick Hickey Jr.

Related posts:

1. Aces, Rockhoppers Championship Series: Game Two Preview With his grandmother in the hospital following heart surgery yesterday,...
2. Aces, Jersey Game Three Pregame Thoughts The Brooklyn Aces may have a point when they say...
3. Aces Playoff Report Card: Eddie Neville With a 1-1-1 record and a 3.17 GAA and a...
4. Aces Fall 5-4 on Boudreau Goal in OT Powered by a three-goal third period and a Tom Boudreau...
5. Aces Over Brooklyn Podcast- Chris Firriolo Game Three Pregame Interview Just minutes ago, Aces Over Brooklyn interviewed Brooklyn Aces head...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.