Green Dragons on the state playoff bubble

BY WAYNE WITKOWSKI
Staff Writer

Above, Brick Memorial's Frank Ryan puts Brick Township's Ryan Martin into the boards during the teams' 3-3 tie on Friday at the Ocean Ice Palace. Below, Brick Township goalie Mike Mulcahy looks to clear the puck. BRICK - A year ago, Brick Memorial's hockey team knocked Brick Township out of qualifying for the NJSIAA Tournament, the first time the Green Dragons missed participating in the postseason, with only its second victory in the series.

And once again, the Mustangs put Brick Township's backs to the wall when Eric Talty punched in a goal from a crowded crease past goalie Mike Mulcahy with 1:07 left to salvage a 3-3 tie Friday at Ocean Ice Palace.

The result, which put Brick Township's record at 6-8-2, puts the Green Dragons in an uncompromising scenario with two games before the cutoff on Tuesday this week at Middletown South and on Monday against ... Brick Memorial, again, at 4 p.m.

"I'm disappointed; we rushed the puck and took bad chances," said Brick Township coach Bob Auriemma. "We made mistakes. Our forwards didn't cover the slot like they should."

CHRIS KELLY staff But for Brick Memorial, now 8-1-3, it silenced the naysayers who say it's in the less-competitive Southern Blue Division, while Brick Township is in the Southern White.

"We put the puck on goal and said, 'Let's keep up the pressure,' " said coach Chip Bruce. "These guys never get discouraged. A couple of games, we were down and made adjustments. This team has a very positive attitude."

Talty took a pass from Bret Eker, who was on his back behind the net and got the puck into the crease in a crowd in front of the goal. Freshman Tom Lindquist started the series.

"This is a good boost for us," said Talty. "I don't know how he [Eker] got the puck to me. He was just fighting through it."

Talty said a key was that Brick Township was unable to add to its 3-2 lead when Mike Guarino took a pass from Vin LaRosa in front of the net 3:30 into the third period.

"That was pivotal," said Bruce. "And then when you're down a goal, you're running out of time and aggressive and take chances you might not [normally] take."

Shortly after Guarino's goal, Brick Township's Matt Dornacker and Jack Disbrow had big rushes to the goal, but Mike Vincent stood his ground in goal. Mulcahy also turned away breakaway threats by Anthony Lobianco and Talty later in the third period.

Brick Memorial was hurt with the absence of injured Tom Brow, while Mike Graf returned to the lineup for Brick Township.

Brick Memorial was outshot for one of the few times this season by Brick Township, 30-22.

"Both goalies stopped threats at big points in the game," said Bruce.

"We just play consistent shift to shift, one at a time. That was our goal, and I think the boys managed to do that."

Neither team led by more than a goal, with Brendan Person giving Brick Memorial a 2-1 lead off a feed from Eker before LaRosa tied it with a short-range shot 8:25 into the second period off a pass from Anthony Zipfel.

Matt Dornacker opened the scoring 10:14 in when he rebounded in a shot by Zipfel that was deflected away. Two minutes later, Lobianco tied it.

"It's frustrating, but at least we know we still have an opportunity to make states," said LaRosa. "I know everyone is working hard. I think we outplayed them and had the majority of scoring chances but still didn't score."

Brick Memorial will look to strengthen its seed with games this week against St. Rose on Monday, Manasquan on Wednesday and at home 4 p.m. Friday against Middletown North.