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KINGS DOWN APPLE CORE, WIN SEVENTEENTH STRAIGHT

Date: Feb 07, 2010

Foxboro, MA- Chris Wagner scored a goal and added an assist to lead the South Shore Kings over New York Apple Core 4-1 on Sunday. 

The game, the second in a weekend series dedicated to raising money for the Matt Brown Fund, began on a somber note as the players and fans were asked to observe a moment of silence to remember former South Shore Kings forward Nick Jillson, who passed away in a fire on Friday night. 

Despite the events that surrounded the game, the teams came flying out of the gate with both teams peppering goaltenders Ryan Benitez and Sam Marotta with shots. 

Brian Schultz put the Kings on the board early in the first period when Chris Wagner sent William Carey skating behind the net. Carey then sent a pass to Schultz, who was stationed just outside the crease, and Schultz tipped the puck past Benitez. 

Benitez prevented further damage later in the period during a penalty kill when the Kings took target practice at the net, only to be denied each time. 

Apple Core threatened to tie the game early in the second period when the line of Louie Balzano, Patrick Guerriero, and Chris Buquicchio unloaded at the net, only to see Sam Marotta save each of their shots. 

The effort would be rewarded with 13:24 on the clock. Kevin Reich passed to Buquicchio, who fired a shot at Marotta. Guerriero swooped in, gathered the rebound at the bottom of the left circle, and roofed it past Marotta to put Apple Core on the board. 

Chris Wagner broke the tie with 8:29 left in the period. Shane Walsh picked up the puck at the point and fired a pass to Charlie Coyle in the circle. Coyle drew Benitez over to stop his shot and fed Wagner across the slot, and Wagner shot the puck behind the goaltender. 

Jake Friedman padded the lead 5:37 into the third after the Kings executed a 3-on-2 play. With the forwards charging into the zone, Robbie Davis sent a cross-ice pass to Peter MacIntyre, who then passed it to Friedman in the slot, and Friedman sent the puck home. 

Benitez skated off for an extra attacker with 1:55 to play, but Patrick Rice scored an empty net goal from William Carey with 1:14 remaining. 

Marotta turned away 29 shots in the win, and Benitez made 32 saves for Apple Core. The win gives the Kings their 17^th straight and extends their unbeaten streak to 21 games.

Apple Core returns to action on Wednesday when they play the Jersey Hitmen and the Kings will take the ice next Sunday in the South Shore Kings Showcase in Foxboro.

-Mike Klein, 7 February 2010

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