LASSIK, PILLA, AND GRICCO DOMINATE SCCC AT THE EAST COAST SHOWDOWN

Saturday, November 21, 2015

The Lions are making a stop this weekend in Philly for The East Coast Showdown Tournament. This will be the last three games before the players go on Thanksgiving Break. So what do you do, when your team is missing several key players and you have a short bench? Put together a new line that can create just as much havoc. The line of Mike Lassik, Mike Pilla, and Nico Gricco, would do just that. Between the three players they would tally eighteen points (9 goals and 9 assists). Penn State's first draw in the tournament was SCCC (Suffolk County Community College). Not knowing what to expect from this first time opponent, the Lions would play cautious and wait for their opportunities. Mike Lassik (7) would open up the scoring at 11:28 of the first period (Gricco/Pilla). Lassik (8) would then tally his second of the game on the power play (Gricco/Danese). Forty seconds later, Pilla (12), would also light the lamp on the power play making SCCC pay for their penalties. Then with Lassik in the box, SCCC would fire a rebound past Snyder. The Lions would lead 3-1 after one. SCCC would narrow the PSU's lead to 3-2 early in the second period. However, thirty four seconds later, Pilla (13) would reestablish the Lion's two goal lead. Nico Gricco would then score his seventh and eighth goals of the season, on a shifty move, the the goaltender stood no chance, made famous by Pavel Datsyuk from the Detroit Red Wings. Pilla and Lassik would assist on the goals. Lassik (9) would get the hat trick at 7:04 from Gricco and Pilla. The Lions second hat trick of the game would come from Pilla (14), from Gricco and Ludwig. SCCC would score two goals with about a minute to play cutting PSU's lead to 8-4. With already a short bench, Pilla would take a ten minute misconduct late in the second period that would carry over deep into the third period. SCCC would take advantage of a tired Lion bench and strike first. Lassik (10), would add his fourth goal of the tournament from Wilson and Danese. The Lions would hold onto the lead and finish off SCCC 9-5. Josh Snyder improved his record to 5-1 with a 3.83 goals against average turning away 21 of 26 shots. "I am very pleased with the boys effort today. They knew they were short and gonna be tired, but they took care of business. PSU improves their record to 9-2-1 on the season. Mike Pilla received the teams MVP belt. PSU meets up with Shippensburg University tonight at 7:15pm at Ice Works in Aston.