By Ben Reese
WARWICK -- Matt Milanesi is in his fourth year of playing ice hockey for Central Bucks South.
He has seen a lot as have the other 11 seniors on the squad. He and his teammates used that experience to grind out a tough 6-3 win over Council Rock South on Wednesday night at Revolution Ice Gardens.
Milanesi contributed two goals to the victory as did Titan captain Colin Abbonizio. Those alone would have been enough to beat the Golden Hawks, but CB South also got goals from Dom Patrone and Daniel Kvecher.
Titan coach Shaun McGinty knows what he has in Milanesi and appreciates everything he contributes.
"He's got a great gas tank," said McGinty. "We can use him on the power play, regular shift, penalty kill. Milanesi plays his role and plays it well. He'll stir the pot.
"He's able to put pressure on people. He's able to be physical when he has to. He can move the puck real well with his hands. He can score. He can do all parts of the game."
And Milanesi likes what he does.
"I've been playing South hockey for four years," he said. "I know what to do.
"Shaun tells us to do the same stuff every game -- come out, move the puck, put shots on net. That's what I tell the younger guys.
"I go out there and I try to set a good example. I give it all my best."
But coming into the game against CR South, an undefeated team in the National Conference, the Titans knew it was going to be a difficult one to win.
"I was worried coming in," Milanesi said. "I knew they were a good team. I knew we were going to have to skate hard.
"They were definitely all over us in the first period. We had to come out strong in the second period and put a few in and get a good lead."
Which is exactly what the Titans did. They scored two goals in each period while allowing the Hawks only one in each stanza for the win.
"Council Rock South, they're always a good team," said McGinty. "They are well coached. Their young players are good players. They were putting the pressure on us at first.
"We had to make sure we stayed the course. We lean on those upperclassmen."
And Milanesi and Abbonizio, both in their final season in CB South sweaters, came through. In the first period, Patrone and Kvecher gave the Titans an early 2-0 lead before Jeremy Purcell cut the lead in half for the Hawks.
In the second period, Milanesi scored early (55 seconds into the period) and midway through the stanza (7:49) bracketing a Golden Hawk goal from Douglas Lopez. Abbonizo notched his two tallies in the third, the second one an empty net goal, while Michael Roby Jr. finished up the scoring for CR South.
"They're a good team," said Rock South coach Joe Houk. "They beat us tonight.
"We weren't on our 'A' game. We were behind the eight-ball the whole time.
"Their goaltender played well. I think my goaltender played well too. He lost his head back there. He got clipped so he came down with his stick. He admitted it."
What Houk is referring to is a penalty in the third period called on Rock South goalie Jimmy Sweeney, who hit CB South defenseman Nathan Fievitz with his stick. The penalty cost the Golden Hawks five minutes in the penalty box and also a game misconduct.
Fievitz, who ended up lying face down on the ice, got up and later returned to the game. He picked up an assist on Abbnizio's second goal.
The victory ups CB South's record to 7-0 for 14 points. CR South falls to 5-1 but still holds first place in the National Conference.
CB South 6, CR South 3
CB South 2 2 2 -- 6
CR South 1 1 1 -- 3
First period: 1, Dom Patrone CBS (Aydin Thierolf, Connor Gaffney) 6:13; 2, Daniel Kvecher CBS (Matt Milanesi) 7:54 PP; 3, Jeremy Purcell CRS (Brennen Wright) 9:54.
Second period: 4, Milanesi CBS (Patrone) 0:55 PP; 5, Douglas Lopez CRS (Antii Autere, Michael Roby Jr.) 1:43; 6, Milanesi CBS (Patrone, Nathan Fievitz) 7:49.
Third period: 7, Colin Abbonizio CBS (Kvecher, Ryan Gingras) 1:02; 8, Roby CRS (D. Lopez, Wright) 11:59 SH; 9, Abbonizio CBS (Fievitz, Brian Keilman) 14:50 PP.
Shots: CBS 37, CRS 30. Saves: Mason Moyer (CBS) 27; Jimmy Sweeney (CRS) 27, Carson Lopez (CRS) 4.
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