Adam Prudhomme
Editor
Luigi Martone scored two goals in just over a minute to lift the Deseronto Bulldogs to a 4-3 home opener win over the South Stormont Mustangs in EOSHL action Saturday night.
Martone scored with 13:33 to go in the third period to knot the game at 3-3 and then banked home another with 12:36 remaining to put the Dogs in front for good and propel them to their first win of the young season.
South Stormont grabbed the first lead of the game six and a half minutes into the first when Kevin Hope got the visitors on the board. Griffen Conger responded for the Bulldogs less than a minute late and Austin Labelle, making his Bulldogs debut, scored just passed the midway mark of the first. Isaac Barr scored late in the frame to tie the game at 2-2 heading into the second.
Bulldogs goalie Corey Kuypers settled in after the first and was outstanding the rest of the game, allowing only one goal over the final 40 minutes when the Mustangs’ Brandon Gilmour found the back of the net with 57 seconds remaining in the second period. Kuypers was perfect in the third, allowing Martone to work his magic to tie and then win the game. Martone also added an assist on the first goal of the game to finish with a three-point night. Matthew Panetta also had two helpers for a two-point game.
Deseronto’s Austin Labelle brings the puck into Mustangs territory. Labelle scored a goal in his debut, helping the team to a 4-3 win. Photo by Adam Prudhomme.
South Stormont outshot the Bulldogs 40-20 on the night but couldn’t find the equalizer as they were shutout over the final 20 minutes. The Mustangs had entered the game unbeaten in their first two matches of the season, winning both games by a one-goal margin before having the script flipped in their 4-3 loss before 180 fans at the Deseronto Community Rec Centre.
Now 1-1 on the season, the Bulldogs will be back in action next Saturday when they hit the road to face the Bytown Royals. Puck drop is 8:15 p.m.
Deseronto’s next home game will be Oct. 22, when they welcome the Glengarry Pipers to the Deseronto Community Rec Centre.