CBA Hockey Week 2 Recap
Another week of CBA is officially in the books. The team played three games in a span of four days, which was the first true test for this Colts team as they look to make a run at a Gordon Conference championship, and potentially even a state title.
The week started off with a thriller, as the second-ranked Colts traveled to Delbarton to face off against the first-ranked Green Wave. In the first period, junior defenseman Pat Reilly continued his hot start to the season, netting a power-play goal and giving the Colts an early lead.
In the second period, Reilly once again found the back of the net on the power play and doubled the Colts’ lead. However, Delbarton was able to rally and put two goals past senior goaltender Joseph Cartigiano, tying up the game at 2 heading into the final period.
Both teams hit the ice with everyone looking to be the hero of the day, but both goaltenders stood strong in the last fifteen minutes, stopping every shot they faced. This highly-anticipated matchup ended in a 2-2, the second straight tie for CBA. The teams will play again on January 12th, when the Green Wave comes to Jersey Shore Arena.
The next day, the Colts squared off at home against the sixth-ranked Pirates of Seton Hall Prep. This game got off to an odd start as a soft shot by senior forward Zach Wagnon ten seconds into the game trickled through the pads of SHP’s goaltender and trickled into the back of the net. This was Wagnon’s first goal of the season, which caught everyone by surprise, and gave the Colts a very early 1-0 lead.
Just a few minutes later, however, Seton Hall Prep was able to tie the game off a nice wrist shot that beat Cartigiano, who was between the pipes again for the Colts, going just over his blocker. CBA wasted no time taking the lead right back though, as sophomore Christian Chouha skated towards the net, and dropped off a beautiful pass to Wagnon on the back door, who buried his second goal of the game.
The score would remain the same until the final thirty seconds of the game. With Seton Hall Prep having pulled their goaltender to get an extra attacker on in an effort to tie the game, Pat Reilly took a costly penalty, which gave the Pirates a two-man advantage in the final thirty seconds.
The Pirates wasted no time on this power play, as its first shot went into the back of the net and tied the game. The heartbroken Colts had squandered another lead, and for the third straight game, had to settle for a 2-2 tie.
The last game of the week for CBA came on Friday, December 10th, when the Rumson-Fair Haven Bulldogs came to Jersey Shore Arena. The Colt Crazies packed the stands for this game, and it was clear that the Colts wanted to win this game more than ever, and would not settle for another tie.
To spare the details, CBA jumped to a 4-0 lead by the end of the second period, with a goal by the captain Aidan Guinessey, two by Chouha, and one by junior forward Antonio Donohue. And with senior goaltender John Donohoe back between the pipes for the Colts, it was safe to say that this lead was safe for CBA.
However, sometimes the greatest things happen when the game seems like it is over. With just under three minutes left, the Colts had a secure 4-1 lead, and most of the Colt Crazies had left believing there was nothing left to see, they could not have been more wrong. Wagnon skated behind the net with the puck before pulling off the Michigan goal, which is when a player scoops up the puck from behind the goal with the blade of the stick and tucks it into the net. The Colts came off the ice with a highlight goal, but more importantly the victory.
That late goal by Wagnon, which should be an early contender for goal of the year, gave him his third of the season, which is tied for the lead among the Colts along with Pat Reilly. Reilly also leads the teams in assists (8) and total points (11). Hopefully, the Colts can use this momentum from Friday’s win and carry it over into next week.
The Colts go on a three-game road trip next week, a major test for this Colts team, where once again they will play three games in four days. On December 13th, they take on Gloucester Catholic, before traveling to play Pope John on the 14th. They end the week at St. Peter’s Prep on the 16th.
So even though the Colts are still technically undefeated, some work still needs to be done. They need to hold on to their leads and play with the same intensity throughout the game. But if Friday’s win can ignite a spark in the team, they could easily come out of next week with three straight road victories and a four-game win streak.
Cover photo was taken by NJ.com.
