Brick Memorial ends hockey season with 13-7-3 mark
Mustangs lose to Watchung Hills in state semis
BY WAYNE WITKOWSKI Staff Writer
Some uncharacteristic defensive lapses figured in Brick Memorial hockey team's season-ending 3-1 loss to WatchungHills in theNJSIAAPublic School Tournament semifinals Saturday night at Mennen Arena but the future bodes bright for another solid season next year.

"We lose only two players from this team - Chris Lamagra and Sean Donald," said coach Chip Bruce as the Mustangs packed their gear away from a 13-7-3 season. "The players got a nice taste and a good understanding of what it takes to get this far."

And it was a surprising season to some observers with such a young roster.

"I think a lot of people did not expect us to go that far," said Bruce.

"No one expected us to go this far; it's motivation for next season," said forward Brandon Person.

Back for another season will be Anthony Lobianco, who led the team with 24 goals and 16 assists.

Sean Chafe got some big goals and on Saturday took a pass from Jon Bartolomei for a wrist shot at 5:49 of the second period to tie it at 1-1 before Watchung Hills (22-4-3) went ahead on an even strength goal at 11:37 on a rebound off a pileup in front of the net before adding a cushion with a shorthanded goal at12:56.

On that last goal, the Watchung Hills scorer got into a race to the goal with Erik Talty of BrickMemorial before slamming on the brakes suddenly and then cutting across the crease for a shot that went between BrickMemorial goalieMike Vincent's legs.

"There was a miscue by our defense on that go-ahead goal," said Bruce of the first goal. "We had a defensive lapse and did not pick that player up in front of the net. We should have cleared that out. Some defensive lapses really hurt us."

Brick Memorial had a 26-16 edge in shots and two goals it contends it scored that were not allowed. The first, on a shot by Lobianco in the second period, was waved off. "That took our momentum away," said Bruce. "We had the momentum and put on some pressure at that time until that happened."

"It took a little momentum away but not much because we were still playing hard," said Person. "Our power play was a little off and so was our passing game."

And then Talty took a shot fromthe right side that appeared to pass the goalie's shoulder and go to the back of the net and bounce back out but the referees would not call it a goal. Bartolomei was stopped on a breakaway early in the game.He had 12 goals and 19 assists this season.

Brick Memorial advanced to Saturday's game with a 6-2 blitz of Steinert early last week to assure its farthest postseason advance since 2003 after it lost to Brick Township recently in the opening round of the Shore Conference A South Tournament. Both local teams went 1-1-1 in head-to-head games this season.

"Everyone has been stepping up," said goalie Vincent of the state tournament victory.

"We've been playing our best hockey of the season now," said Person, who had fewer goals than last season with eight but had 19 assists to help set up a well-balanced attack. Person's passing and his solid play while on defense, which is where he has played for the Junior Titans club team out of Wall, helped Brick Memorial to its solid season.

"I'm just helping them out on D (defense)," said Person." It makes me a little more well rounded.And the balance on offense takes a little pressure off me. We have a little more depth."

Brick Memorial raced to a 4-0 lead that started with a goal by Lamagra at 11:04 when he was set up in front by Bartomolei andChafe.Chafemade it 2-0 at 2:33 into the second periodwith Lamagra andBartolomei assisting. Talty rebounded in a shot by Bartolomei three minutes later when Steinert was slow in clearing the puck and Lobianco fired in a backhander off a pass fromTalty at 9:07 to make it 4-0.

Less than a minute later, Steinert answered with its first goal and pulled to 4-2 at 13:03, although the Mustangs said afterward their confidence was not shaken.

"We stuck to our game plan andwe knew we had them," said Bruce. "After we got our fourth goal,we tried to slowdown and settle in and relax, but we felt we were in control from the beginning. Both lines forechecked well.Wewere confident becausewe knowwe don't have the best talent in the state but the guys work hard."

Person put Brick Memorial back in command with a goal at 6:59 left in the third period, set up by Lobianco for a 5-2 lead and Talty closed the scoring at 10:26 off passes from Mike Spinelli and Bartolomei. Spinelli, Talty, Tom Lindquist and Jayson Franchesini all had roles on a defense that keynoted theMustangs' success this season, that included a forechecking style the Mustangs put into their system this season that pressured teams while clearing the puck and forced mistakes and turnovers for scoring opportunities.

Their experience no doubt will keep that strategy intact for next season.