Beyond the Scoresheet

penultimate day of coverage

March 7, 2006 on 10:45 pm | In game recap | Comments Off on penultimate day of coverage

The biggest stories tonight came from the private tournament, where two more Gordon Conference teams were eliminated, leaving only half of the state’s top conference – the tournament’s top four seeds – still alive. Bishop Eustace beat St. Peter’s Prep for the second time this season, this time by a 6-3 margin thanks in part to 45 saves from Colin Saltiel. … CVC stalwart Notre Dame knocked off St. John Vianney for the second straight year, this time by a 5-1 score, as the Irish added two empty-net goals late. SJV has not won a state tournament game since 2003. Notre Dame is 0-6 all-time in private quarterfinals. … In the other private game of the day, Delbarton crushed Pingry 10-0 and will face St. Augustine Prep in the quarterfinals.

On the public side, NBIAL Division II champion Indian Hills beat Central Blue champion Hillsborough 4-1 at Aspen Ice in Flemington. The Braves are the second NBIAL team ever to reach the public quarterfinals, equaling Fair Lawn‘s feat of 2003 (before the NBIAL crowned a hockey champion). … The Cutters saw their own quarterfinal hopes fade against Central White champion Montgomery, as the Cougars pulled away for a 3-1 win.

NJSIAA Public Round of 16: Morris Knolls 9, Princeton 3
Defending public state champion Morris Knolls advanced to the quarterfinals with a 9-3 win over Princeton Tuesday. Although the Golden Eagles once again needed more than 20 saves from Josh Ofner, the issue was rarely in doubt, as Knolls outclassed the Little Tigers in finishing ability and goaltending.

Dan Duda set up Steven Jones for an early goal, and Tommy Tomensky added a power-play marker at the 8:20 mark. The game then turned late in the first period, as Tomensky fed Jones for a breakaway, and he was hauled down for a penalty shot. Jones easily converted with a backhand move around Princeton goalie Shane Leuck for a 3-0 lead. On Knolls’ next attack, Leuck covered for a face-off and gave Jones a quick, defensive jab as he came to the net, earning a stern word from one official. Within a minute, Duda sped past the Princeton defense and roofed a breakaway shot over Leuck for a 4-0 lead. Leuck, so instrumental to Princeton’s success, lost his cool and broke his stick on the goalpost, earning himself a ten-minute misconduct.

Knolls only got three shots in more than 10 minutes against backup Kristofer Bleach, but all found the net, and the Golden Eagles led 7-2 after two periods before cruising to a 9-3 win.

Duda, though he started on the blue line tonight, was the offensive architect, as he scored three goals and set up two others. His breakaway goal in the first minute of the second period was the most impressive, as he stepped up at the red line to steal the puck from John Ryan, beat three Little Tigers with a combination of speed and guile, and finished into the roof of the net over the diving pokecheck of Bleach. Jones scored four goals, three on his backhand, and Tomensky added two more for the final margin.

Morris Knolls 9, Princeton 3

Scoring

Pri	0	2	1		3
MK	4	3	2		9

Shots

Pri	7	10	8		27
MK	12	8	12		32

1st
3:27 MK #44 Steven Jones (#14 Dan Duda)
8:20 MK (pp) #41 Tommy Tomensky (#14 Dan Duda)
12:30 MK (ps) #44 Steven Jones
13:13 MK #14 Dan Duda (#44 Steven Jones, #10 Jimmy Timmins)
2nd
0:36 MK #14 Dan Duda (unassisted)
4:12 Pri #12 Peter Teifer (#6 Christian McCracken)
5:23 MK #14 Dan Duda (#40 Alex Clelland, #41 Tommy Tomensky)
5:39 MK #44 Steven Jones (#41 Tommy Tomensky, #7 Justin Lewandowski)
14:09 Pri #20 Sam Finnell (#12 Peter Teifer)
3rd
0:26 MK #44 Steven Jones (#17 Justin Lewandowski)
6:17 MK (pp) #41 Tommy Tomensky (unassisted)
14:05 Pri #18 John Ryan (#20 Sam Finnell)

Goalies
#33 Shane Leuck (Pri) 29-23
#1 Kristofer Bleach (Pri) 3-0
#33 Josh Ofner (MK) 27-24

Power plays: Pri 0-3, MK 2-5