Mt. Olive 4 - Montville 1

Marauders conquer Mustangs

Morris Twp, NJ - The Mt. Olive ice hockey team defeated Montville 4-1 on Thursday night at Mennen. Montville came into the game off a close 3-2 defeat to Park Regional. The Marauders looked to stop a two game losing streak and had a full week between games. The week gave Mt. Olive plenty of time to practice and prepare and the Marauders came out of the gates like a readied Thoroughbred. Not 50 seconds into the game, Mt. Olive already had two shots on net. Mustangs’ keeper Robbie Brown stopped both and the Mustangs were able to kill the ensuing first penalty.

After nearly ten minutes of scoreless play, Mt. Olive took a 1-0 lead. Dominic Potente scored on the power play, stuffing in a rebound. Not even twenty seconds later, Mt. Olive’s Brian Diaz was robbed by Brown with a glove save as Diaz was in 1 on 1. Mt. Olive continued to pressure, and poured on 12 shots in the first period. The Marauders did take advantage of the next penalty a connected on a power play goal 4:01 left in the first. A Potente shot from the point was saved, but kicked out into the crease off of Brown’s chest. With the puck just out of reach of Brown, Diaz was able to push the puck to John Bellamente who had all day to hit the open side. The second power play goal doubled Mt. Olive’s lead to 2-0.

Mt. Olive continued to pressure Brown and the Mustangs, but could not break through in the second, despite 12 shots on goal. Montville held Mt. Olive scoreless on al three second period power plays, including a 5-3 power play that lasted 1 minute and 9 seconds. Dan Lyons took the puck from a Mustang player near Mt. Olive blue line and skates cross ice, forcing a two on none break away. Brown was able to intercept the pass with his glove and keep the game at 2-0.

Mt. Olive came out strong in the third period. Potente added his second goal just 43 seconds into the period. But, about 3 minutes into the third, Montville turned it up a few notches and showed a fire that had been missing all game. Trailing 3-0, the Mustangs began to attack. Anthony Pinella ruined the shut out bid after taking a pass on the goal line, near the bench-side corner, crossing in and fires a rocket top shelf, cutting the lead to 3-1. Both teams had apparent goals waved off before Bellamente sealed the victory with maybe the night prettiest goal. Short-handed, Bellamente beat the Montville defense, but lost the puck when Mustangs’ keeper Brown poked the puck loose. The puck laid unattended for a few a few brief seconds, just enough for Bellamente to regroup from behind the net and slide the puck into the open side.

In goal, Montville's Robbie Brown allowed four goals and had 28 saves; almost all were quality scoring chances. Brown was most impressive during a three minute stint about 5 minutes into the third. Brown was being peppered with shots. Dominic Potente and John Bellamente both had two goals and an assist. Dan Gillette stopped all 16 of 17 shots he faced, including making 9 saves in the 3^rd period.

The Marauders face off Saturday against Roxbury. There will be no rest for the Mustangs as the face off at 9:15 Friday night against Scotch Plains-Fanwood at Union. The Raiders play an independent schedule and are currently 5-8-1 on the 2007 season. This will be the second meeting between the Mustangs and the Raiders. Montville edged Scotch Plains-Fanwood 5-3 on December 30^th. Montville is the only Morris County School on the Raiders’ schedule until they face Kinnelon twice on the 27^th and the 2^nd.

Click here to view photos from the game.