On February 15th 2018, the Bethpage Eagles fell just short of the Nassau County Championship to the reigning champs, the Long Beach Marines. Despite a valiant effort and tug determination, Long Beach was able to squeak out the win against our Eagles.

In game one of the Finals, played at the PowerPlant, the Eagles had a huge crowd ready to cheer them on. Also this game was being televised live on News12. In this matchup, the Eagles struck first with a goal from sophomore Brendan Dixson. However, the Marines quickly bounced back in the final seconds of the first period to tie it at 1. The Eagles had somewhat of a defensive lapse in the second period, and the Marines netted 2 more goals making it 3-1 in favor of Long Beach.

When the 3rd period began the Eagles knew what they had to do. They needed to stick to their skills and to their hearts. However, quickly after the period began the Marines scored yet another goal, making it 4-1. As time ticked down it started to look not in the favor of the Eagles.

With 8 minutes left to play, Alternate captain Kevin Drucker put one into the goal to cut the deficit in half to make it 4-2. After minutes of fierce play and stellar work in net by Spyro Markoulis, there was only 4 minutes left. The Marines suffered a penalty which gave the Eagles a huge opportunity to score. Quickly after, Drucker, after making a nice move to the outside, threw the puck in front of the net to be tipped by Bryan Hanley. The puck crossed the goal line making the score 4-3 with just under 4 minutes. The Eagles needed just one more goal to tie.

Shortly after with less than 2 minutes to play, the Eagles were pounding the Marines with offensive force. After a blast by Will Dixson there was a huge rebound will allowed Kevin Drucker to roof the puck in the back of the net to tie the game.

Despite the comeback and huge efforts from the whole lineup, the Eagles fell in a 3 on 3 double overtime period.

Two days later the Eagles played the Marines in the decisive game 2. It seemed as if the whole city of Long Beach was in attendance. The Marines netted 2 goals quickly, only to be followed by 2 goals of the Eagles’ own. The game was tied until there was little time left in the 2nd period where Matthew Salerno scored to take the lead 3-2. After that is was all Eagles shortly after the 3rd period started.

In the 3rd period the Eagles scored 3 more unanswered goals to make it a whopping 6-2 Eagles lead. Unable to stop them, the Marines lost their first game of the season, and lost their first Nassau County Hockey League at home since the 2015 County Finals vs Bellmore-Merrick.

By Nassau County Hockey rule however, after the finals series is tied 1-1 there is no full decisive 3rd game, but a 10 minute minigame to be played directly after game 2.  After being drastically fatigued, as well as physically and mentally drained, the Eagles had to suit up for the mini game against the #1 ranked team in New York state.

Unfortunately, despite valourous efforts and tug determination, the Eagles suffered a 2-0 loss in the minigame, deeming the Long Beach Marines county champions for back to back years.