ICE HOCKEY
By: Tim Falls
The Lawrence High School ice hockey team completed its season with a 6-2 loss to Mahwah last Wednesday night.
It was the second straight year the Cardinals made the NJSIAA playoffs.
Despite the first-round loss, Lawrence continued to make progress with a strong showing in the postseason.
Lawrence, the 42nd seed, had trouble dealing with the depth Mahwah, the 23rd seed, was able to put on the ice.
"It was close for a while until the last 10 minutes of the third period," said Borowsky. "They had four lines and we were running two lines. A couple of bad bounces, bad breaks, wore us down."
Lawrence fell behind two goals in the first period, but Lawrence persisted in putting pressure on the Mahwah net.
"We had a couple of chances that didn’t go our way," said Borowsky. "We hit two posts. It was 2-1 and Pat Kowalczyk hit the crossbar. Instead of tying it up, they got the next goal to make it 3-1."
Kowalczyk did find the net.
The Lawrence senior scored both goals for the Cardinals.
Unfortunately for Lawrence, Mahwah added three third-period goals to move out of reach, but id did not diminish the Cardinals’ efforts.
"This was a great season," said Borowsky, "another one, just like last year."
The Cardinals won the Hornet Holiday Tournament with a big win over West Windsor-Plainboro North, placed well as the third-seed in the Mercer County Tournament and reached the NJSIAA tournament for the second straight year.
Qualifying for the postseason was the Cardinals’ major goal from the start of the season.
"They played great," said Borowsky. "The big thing was being prepared. It was a two-and-a-half hour bus ride, at night, in the middle of the week, so we had a lot going against us. We didn’t have their depth so they had a lot going for them."
One thing that impressed Borowsky the most this season, was how his team continued to learn.
"They learned that can’t go out and play like it was a pickup game," said Borowsky. "We used a system and played smart."
More importantly the Cardinals remained focused on getting better.
"They learned to work hard and what hard work will get them," said Borowsky. "It got us to states for the second straight year."
Lawrence had chances with two-man advantages in the third period, but could not capitalize on those opportunities.
The absence of Brock Krawczyn out on the ice was tough to handle. The Lawrence sophomore was the team’s leading scorer until he broke his shoulder earlier in the season.
"We needed someone like him out there," said Borowsky. "He was there with us on the bench and I’m sure it was killing him not being out there as much as it was killing me not being able to send him out."
Borowsky said he was thankful for the support his team received.
"We had tremendous support, from the students, parents, the whole district," said Borowsky. "The teachers were very supportive, from the high school and Ben Franklin (the middle school where Borowsky teaches). I know the players really appreciated that."