ICE HOCKEY: Though the Rams felt they outplayed them, the Spartans of Steinert scored a 6-3 upset win in the first round of the NJSIAA Tournament.
By: Neil Hay
No matter how well you play, or how many minutes you control the puck, all that matters is the score.
When the final buzzer sounded Monday afternoon at Lawrenceville Prep, the score was not what the Hightstown ice hockey team wanted to see.
"Steinert 6, Hightstown 3."
Coming in the opening round of the state tournament, it meant the Rams’ season was over. And like the Mercer County Tournament 11 days earlier, Hightstown failed to win a game in either major tournament this year. When was the last time that happened?
"We outplayed them, we outshot them. We hit three posts. We didn’t capitalize on our opportunities, and they did," said coach Jim Kiernan-Stout.
Seeded 26th in states, Hightstown lost to Steinert (the 29th seed) for the second time this season. In years past the Rams owned Steinert. But times have changed in the CVC, and now the have-nots are sticking it to the haves. It was a bitter loss for the locals.
"It was pretty frustrating," admitted Kiernan-Stout, who saw his icemen upended in the MCT opener by Nottingham. "We dominated."
Hightstown got goals from Brian Shaw, Adam Tousant and Mike Schickner. But the Rams lost Brett Ruina early in the middle period when someone stepped on the back of his hand with a skate, opening a deep laceration. Ruina wanted to play, but the coaching staff felt it better for Ruina’s health to keep him out.
"It (the injury) definitely had an impact on the game," said Kiernan-Stout. "He is a sparkplug who fires the guys up."
Still, the Rams (who took 31 shots to 21 for Steinert) had their chances. And after two periods the score was tied 2-2. In the third session the Spartans took the lead on a controversial goal when the officials said Hightstown goalie Dale Sokol (15 saves) caught the puck with his glove inside the net. Moments later Steinert scored again on a breakaway for a 4-2 lead. The Rams answered that one 14 seconds later with their third goal of the game. But with 2:36 to play the Spartans scored again. Then, with just :18 left on the clock, and with Sokol pulled for an extra skater, the Spartans iced the win with an empty net goal. It was Steinert’s fourth goal of the period.
Steinert (now 10-8-3) played a great game," said Kiernan-Stout. "They were happy afterwards and we were down. Surprised too."
But never, insisted Kiernan-Stout, were the Rams overconfident. True, at other times this season the Rams tended to take other teams too lightly. Not this time.
"The attitude was at its best. Everyone on the bus was quiet, serious. Leadership was an issue at mid-season. We had leadership toward the end, but unfortunately we could not get wins when it counted."
At 11-10-1 the Rams barely had a winning record in Kiernan-Stout’s first season on the Hightstown bench. While expectations might have been higher in certain circles, Kiernan-Stout had no complaints of what the team accomplished.
"We are a very young team this year, predominately sophomores. Our inexperience showed in games we lost that we should have won. The whole season was a learning experience, for the players and the coach. Next year I’ll know what to expect. With the guys we had, we had an excellent season."
Hightstown will lose five players to graduation, starters Brian Shaw, Matt Jones, and Matt Roberts, and reserves Anthony Cortese and Jordan Richmond.
As for next year, "I definitely think we’ll be better with another year of experience under our belts."