High School Ice Hockey: Clearview Scores Late to Defeat Eastern Friday, November 5, 2004 By Mike Costantino SJSports Staff Writer Jim Fritz scored his second goal of the game with less than three minutes left in the third period as Clearview defeated Eastern 5-4 in SJHSIHL action played at Hollydell. The game was a seesaw affair with each team taking leads, but neither team taking control of the game. After a scoreless first period, Clearview took a 1-0 lead as Mike Sullivan scored a power play goal from the circle. Midway through the period with Eastern on the power play, Sullivan stole the puck and scored on a breakaway to make it 2-0. Eastern responded seconds later on the same man advantage, Dan Tavana put home a rebound of a Nick Rubino shot to cut the lead to 2-1. Rich Smith tied the game at 2-2 scoring on a rebound of a shot by Tavana and Eastern would take the lead with three minutes left in the period as Derrick Schemmel scored to put his team up 3-2. But in the final minute of the period Ryan Spillman tied the game for Clearview. Each team traded power play goal in the third with Fritz scoring for Clearview and Tavana responding for Eastern. That set the stage for Fritz’s heroics. With the teams skating four aside, Clearview broke out on a 3-on-1, with Fritz carrying the puck. Once he crossed the blue line his slap shot beat Ryan Donner just under the crossbar and Clearview had the lead at 5-4. Eastern pulled the goalie for an extra skater in the final seconds but could not generate a good scoring opportunity. Notes: The loss was the third for the defending champs, more than they have suffered in the last two years. Graduation definitely hurt the Vikings, however with more efforts like tonight, they might surprise some people further down the line. Photos by Art Redd