#4 Ridgewood Defeats #13 Mendham 5-2
Ridgewood defeated Mendham 5-3 off a hat trick from sophmore forward AJ LoSauro. The Minutemen jumped out to an early lead, with Eddie Fox getting one by Ridgewood Goalie Jack Scali. Mendham took a 1-0 going into the first intermission and looked great on the ice.
The momentum swung after a 5-minute major was assessed against Mendham, and Ridgewood took full advantage. The Maroons scored three straight goals to go up 3-1, putting the Minutemen in a tough spot. Ian Aikenhead cut it 3-2, but LoSauro and company pulled away in the 3rd period to ice the game.
#12 Pingry Skates It Off In OT Against #7 Seton Hall Prep in Non-Public Round 1
This game had it all! There were comebacks, bouncebacks, physical hockey, and overtime. Seton Hall Prep jumped out to a quick two-goal lead, scoring both goals within three minutes of each other. Zachary Cumming netted the first goal, while John Renzullo hit the second.
Pingry struck back right before the 1st period came to an end. Evan Xie cut the lead in half, and Charlie Sherman scored a Power Play Goal just seconds before the 1st intermission.
The Pirates retook the lead off a Kaden Frei goal early in the 2nd period, but Alex Payne beat the buzzer to tied it up 3-3 heading into the third. After a scoreless 3rd period, it was time for State Playoffs OT. Pingry pulled up the upset with Freddie Field burying the game winner to skate it off for Big Blue.
#6 Morris Knolls/Hills Hold off #11 Lakeland in 5-3 win
Luke Dickerson was the offense for the Golden Eagles early in this games. Through two periods of play, the Senior Forward had already locked up a Hat-Trick but Knolls/Hills was clinging to a 3-2 heading into the 3rd period.
Brendan Gleason gave the Golden Eagles some breathing room finding the back of the net late in the 3rd. Lakeland cut the lead to 4-3 but Marek Kazik closed the curtains with an empty net shorty to seal the W for Knolls/Hills.
#7 Passaic Tech Skates It Off Against #10 Morristown in OT 2-1
If you like hard-nosed defensive hockey, then this was the perfect game! After the 1st period saw no goals scored, both teams broke through coming out of the intermission. Scott Williams and Morristown struck first when the Sophomore got one by Passaic Tech goalie Jack Bernice.
It would be the only goal of the game for the Colonials as Joe Wiecinski tied it up at the end of the period making it a 1-1 game headings into the 3rd.
Both goalies stood tall and didn’t allow a goal in the 3rd period so on to overtime we went. Max Bernice was the hero for Passaic Tech in this one skating it off early in OT as the Bernice Boys propel the Bulldogs to round two.
