Grit Over Speed: Icecats Rally To Take Opener

The 10U Green Machines opened their 2025-26 season in West Chester on Sunday morning, and it was an 8-7 rollercoaster victory, reminding you summer is over and Hockey is here. We spotted our Yellow counterparts an early goal off a turnover, but Zach Friedman answered in seconds, then added another wraparound beauty.

Winnie Lando roofed one to make it 3-1, and for a moment, it felt like we might cruise.

Yet Yellow's speed punched back hard in the second.

Breakaways, odd-man rushes, turned things into a track meet and had our defenders throwing panic Pizzia's up the middle where they pounced for goals. We stared at a 6-3 hole. It could've been over. Many teams fold there. Not us. Not one spearheaded by the dynamic coaching duo of Pearce Erensel and Adam Verstandig.

With 13 seconds left in the second, Winnie sparked life with a shortside snipe (6-4). The third was all IceCats:

Friedman pounced on a Howie Azizo keep-in (6-5).

Winnie's forecheck forced a turnover, and Jacob Rubin buried the equalizer (6-6). Friedman redirected Jonah Feld's rip from the line for the lead (7-6) with 4:55 left.

Then with 2:07 remaining, Feld → Friedman → Caleb Verstandig, tic-tac-toe (8-6). They grabbed one late, but we closed it out.

Meanwhile, David Sasson slammed the door between the pipes when it mattered-2-on-0 stop, multiple breakaways, huge late saves. No Sasson, no comeback.

3 stars:

Zach Friedman (3G, 2A, )

David Sasson (G) Huge saves in leaky second, giving us a shot in third.

Jacob Rubin (GTG, was buzzin' all morning).