ARLINGTON — At observe earlier than the sport and in each interval Thursday evening, the St. John’s Prep boys hockey workforce talked lots about Arlington Catholic’s battle and their Div. 1-leading 15-game unbeaten streak.
The No. 2 Eagles (12-3-2) didn’t ship their greatest efficiency towards that grit, however the small particulars and one more robust defensive displaying powered a 4-2 nonleague win over the No. 9 Cougars at Ed Burns Area to lastly snap their streak.
JR Goldstein scored the primary of his two targets on the evening in a 2-0 lead the Eagles gained within the opening 5 minutes, they usually saved AC at that distance the remainder of the best way regardless of 4 penalties and a bodily cost the Cougars responded with.
“I assumed it was a very good highway win, AC is a robust workforce,” mentioned SJP head coach Kristian Hanson. “We discovered methods tonight, doing little issues to present ourselves an opportunity. … Was it our greatest efficiency of the 12 months? No. However AC performed actually arduous and that could be extra a results of their grittiness and their toughness.”
Pictures have been restricted within the first interval as physicality confirmed up early for each teams, however the Eagles nonetheless discovered a solution to put AC in an early gap.
Christian Coleman despatched an important cross from the precise nook to Anthony Petruccelli charging towards the online, and he deflected it towards the online for a 1-0 lead 2:52 into play. Simply 78 seconds later, Goldstein rushed down the precise facet and obtained across the edge for a transparent taking pictures lane, which he took benefit of to make it 2-0.
“We knew they have been a very good workforce, we knew they have been a gritty workforce they usually have been going to push again,” Goldstein mentioned. “So we simply needed to hold pushing and never let up. Our objective was to only hold it going, put extra pucks within the internet, and finally take them out of the sport.”
Hanson was happy with the beginning, however extra importantly, pleased with SJP persevering with to play arduous.
The Cougars settled down rapidly from the second objective to maintain exercise off of goalie Stephen Camara (26 saves) whereas making use of strain on the assault. Goldstein and the remainder of the blue line didn’t essentially exit of its solution to be bodily, however used its measurement and velocity to its benefit when physicality was dropped at them.
Kevin Correa, Sefton Paradis and Brennan Waters have been disruptive within the defensive zone, blowing up rushes and reducing off skating lanes. AC’s harmful high two traces introduced plenty of vitality and velocity, however SJP restricted it to 23 photographs on internet and shut the Cougars out in 5-on-5 play.
“We ran 4 D as we speak so it was form of a grind, however we’ve obtained some good defensemen,” Goldstein mentioned. “And those who didn’t get as a lot time have been there maintaining the vitality up on the bench and supporting, in order that’s an enormous assist. We simply performed easy, sensible hockey and obtained pucks out.”
“I assumed (Goldstein) was glorious … (Correa) was a bodily presence all evening,” Hanson added. “A variety of the battles within the nook our guys did a very good job of profitable.”
The Eagles prolonged the lead halfway via the second interval on Paradis’ objective coming off a rebound. However in addition they dedicated three of their 4 penalties in the identical interval, which the Cougars lastly cashed in on with Brayden Boczenowski’s shot from the precise level deflected off a physique into the online on the tail finish of the facility play.
Momentum swung in AC’s favor coming into the final interval, however an early penalty arrange Goldstein for an influence play objective to increase the lead SJP result in 4-1.
“It’s such a sport of momentum,” Hanson mentioned. “Whenever you rating twice within the first 5 minutes, the hazard is it turns into, ‘Alright, this isn’t going to be arduous.’ We came upon tonight it was going to be arduous and actually needed to compete till the top to win.”
Cael Colarullo scored a objective off a rebound on an influence play with 2:20 left in a last-ditch comeback effort, however that’s all goalie Jesse Bernardinelli (21 saves) allowed.
“(He’s) very strong,” Hanson mentioned. “He’s calm, composed. He does an important job of seeing the puck via visitors, and after we wanted large saves tonight he got here up with them.”
With the win, SJP has taken eight straight and heads into the ultimate stage of the common season as one of many state’s hottest groups.
“We simply obtained to maintain doing what we’re doing, we’ve obtained to be assured in ourselves each single day,” Goldstein mentioned. “We’ve obtained to maintain the vitality up in observe and keep assured, and never be cocky.”
