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Montville High School and Park Regional collided in a divisional ice hockey showdown that was one- sided to start, but turned out to be a gripping game. Park came out firing with four unanswered goals in the first 10 minutes. But Montville chipped away and came all the way back to earn a well-deserved draw.
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It was all Park to start the game as they took only ten minutes to build a 4-0 lead. This quick start forced Montville coach Chuck Fischer to make a goalie change with six minutes left in the first period. Casey Duke got the call and had to come in cold off the bench and try and shut down Park’s relentless attack.
Duke said he was surprised by the goalie change but, he got quickly into the hockey game after making his first save on a slap shot from the point. Montville finally started to apply some pressure and began their comeback, scoring two goals in the final three minutes of the period.
The Mustangs came out sizzling in the second period, pinning Park in their zone for most of the period, but only scored once, leaving them behind heading to the final period.
Montville's relentless pressure became too much and led to two more goals, giving the Mustangs a 5-4 lead with six minutes in the game. Having seen enough, Park Regional coach Tom Levis called a time out in an effort to fire up his demoralized squad. This move paid dividends as Park came back to tie the hockey game a minute later on a goal by Michael Braviak.
Montville had the last chance to steal a win as it had several shot attempts in the last few seconds only to be denied by Park’s goalie Michael Brattoli.
Levis stated that his team was seduced by the early lead and allowed a good Montville team to come back and take control of the sports contest. Park was able compose themselves and get a point in a divisional game.
Coach Fischer of Montville was glad to see his team react positively after a dismal start to the game. “We are always slow out of the gate but we seem to play better as the game develops,” he said. Montville remains unbeaten in the division and is well positioned to earn a higher seed in the Haas Cup tournament. --Emir Liguori for Jersey Sports Now
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