Captain Kevin Dinino’s ‘Domo Orangino’ had the most consistently competitive run of any Fall League side, running through a full regular season slate, plus four playoff games without ever losing by more than one goal. It was another back and forth affair for Orange in the opening game of Week Four. Gary Peters shocked all involved with a rising rocket nine seconds in, and Jet Javelet made it 2-0 for the underdogs at 6:03 in the first. Kris Tosczak stopped the bleeding with his first of the night less than twenty seconds later, but David Bronstein very quickly put Orange back up 3-1. It was Tosczak again to cut the lead to 3-2, and both teams walked to the bench for intermission with a bewildered buzz. It was Tosczak again for the hat trick and the tie early in the second, converting Glenn Pinto’s third assist on the night, then Captain Chad Goins to give Pink the 4-3 lead (assist to…you guessed it, Mr. Tosczak). Jet Javelet (2 and 2) brought the ledger back to level with a blistering roof job early in the third, and the dust would finally settle, as regulation wore to an end with no further damage either way. Both teams found chances, but no finish in OT, and it was on to the shootout. Dale Stuzka followed a Mark DeGraffenreid miss with a goal to open the first round. David Bronstein would equalize later in the string, and it was on to sudden death shootout. It was DeGraffenreid…NO, Dale…YES once again, as the storied league veteran dipped, deked, and delivered the final dagger, moving Pink on to face Tie Dye with a 5-4 shootout win…
Captain Joe Malki’s Tie Dye were rested and ready for Pink, who showed no lack of passion, but some signs of fatigue in their second game of the night. Danielle Franco-Morrison smacked home a rebound to give Tie Dye a 1-0 lead, and Chris Malki added insurance just two ticks into a power play to double the trouble in the second. Sean Kelly stood tall, stopping 22/22, making two goals more than enough for Tie Dye, 2-0 over Pink. Tiffany Fox absorbed the loss, in spite of strong play all night (and all season). She stopped all but one Orange shootout attempt, then gave her team a chance with 15/17 in the second game of the double header. Congratulations to Tie Dye, who move on to face Black in the Spring League Final. Pink can hold their heads high for a great season, and a hard fought final night of action.