High School Ice Hockey:
Becker Is All Natural In Vikings' Win

Monday, December 13, 1999

By Mike Costantino
SJSports Staff Writer

Mike Becker scored a natural hat trick in leading Eastern to a 6-3 win over Lenape in a SJHSIHL game played on Monday night at the Coliseum. Becker opened the scoring as he scored on a breakaway after being sent in by Tom Fadako three minutes into the game. Two minutes later Becker banged home a rebound goal after a scramble in front of the net. The assists went to Ryan Sullivan and Adam Esfahani and the period ended at 2-0.

Eastern would launch twenty-one shots in the first period, fifty overall. But Sean Sheehan showed why he's one of the best, if not the best goalie in the league as he played very strong in goal. Becker would complete his hat trick late in the second period, scoring an unassisted goal on a breakaway. Lenape finally scored on the power play with nine seconds left in the period, as Ken McClure blasted one in from the blue line and Sheehan got the assist and we headed into the third period at 3-1.

Despite being out-shot and not generating much offense, Lenape was still in the game, a credit to strong goaltending and good coaching. Whichever team scored first would dictate the play in the period. Well just over a minute into the period after Sheehan made a glove save from his back on Lucas Urso, the Vikings kept the puck in the zone and Urso scored from in close to make it 4-1. Dan Whitlock scored on the power play midway through the period to bring Lenape to 4-2. But Marc Manara and John Schellenhammer scored around a Brett Maeder goal to make the final 6-3.

Photos by Boog Williams