Lancers fall in Parochial semifinals to No. 1 Delbarton
VERONICA YANKOWSKI St. John Vianney’s Greg Mazza blocks a shot from Delbarton’s Tim Campbell during Friday’s Parochial semifinal game at the Mennen Ice Arena in Morris Township. The Lancers played well but fell 4-2 to the state’s top-ranked team.
St. John Vianney
hockey team wraps up successful season
By Warren Rappleyea
Staff Writer
The St. John Vianney High School ice hockey team won the Shore Conference’s A Division title and enjoyed good runs in the Gordon Cup playoffs and the NJSIAA Parochial tournament on its way to a 20-win season.
The Lancers’ hopes of winning the Parochial tournament ended Friday at top-seeded Delbarton with a semifinal 4-2 loss at the Mennen Ice Arena in Morris Township.
After falling behind 1-0 in the first period, sophomore Dan Scarafile tied the score with a power-play goal at 8:28 of the second session.
Delbarton regained the lead four minutes later and went up by two goals 90 seconds later.
Delbarton, making a third straight appearance in the Parochial semifinals, added a fourth goal early in the third period, but Mitchell Morgan scored on the power-play midway through the period to cut the lead.
However, any hope of launching a late comeback ended when the Lancers were unable to convert on a late power play.
Vianney was outshot 39-22, but goalie Todd Stolarz was strong in stopping 35 shots. Stolarz’s play was solid throughout the season and was one of the main reasons the Lancers advanced as far as they did.
Vianney earned a place in the semifinals by downing Christian Brothers Academy, Lincroft section of Middletown, in the quarterfinals and Pope John XXIII in the opening round.
In Gordon Cup play, the Lancers also reached the semifinals, where they lost to Seton Hall Prep after downing Bergen Catholic and CBA.
During the regular season, the Lancers went a perfect 6-0 to win the Shore Conference A Division and establish themselves as the local area’s premier team.
Vianney coach Mike Dowd said his team was successful because it has three strong lines, with Scarafile, Morgan, Tom Mariano and George Bardis providing the scoring, good goaltending and experienced defense, led by Hunter Dowd and John Mayer and Greg Mazza.
The Lancers’ run to the Parochial semifinals provided their fans with plenty of excitement and the promise that the hockey tradition at St. John Vianney remains intact.