ICE HOCKEY
By Tim Falls, Sports Editor
The Lawrence High School varsity ice hockey team started the season off strongly with a victory over Ewing.
The Cardinals defeated Ewing, 10-5, at the ice skating center at Mercer County Park on Monday night.
”It was awesome,” said Lawrence coach Andy Borowsky. “We had a slow start, but it was a great effort.”
Lawrence controlled the game, though Ewing managed to keep the score close until midway through the second period. The Blue Devils came within a goal, 3-2, before seven unanswered tallies by Lawrence allowed Borowsky to test out his depth. Ewing scored three goals in the third period, but Lawrence remained out of reach.
”We have a lot of potential,” said Borowsky. “We still have to get a little bit of the rust out.”
Lawrence’s junior captains Tim Finnerty and Brock Krawczun had hat trick in Lawrence’s opening win.
”They’re coming together,” said Borowsky. “They’re juniors and they’re my captains and they’re up to all expectations.”
Lawrence sophomore Joe Guarrieri scored the Cardinals’ first goal of the season, and Pat Fedorko tallied the second.
Ewing cut into Lawrence’s lead, but two goals by Krawczun kept the Cardinals ahead.
Freshman Corey Crafford scored for Lawrence, folllowed by two from Finnerty, a third by Krawczun, another from Finnerty and Crafford scored again as well for Lawrence’s 10th goal.
”It was a great start,” said Borowsky. “We have a lot of leadership with my seniors and juniors.”
Skating for the Cardinals this season will be senior defenders Jake McClister and Billy McClister and senior goalie Matt Azrolan. Lawrence’s juniors are captains Finnerty and Krawczun, defender Bob DiBella, forward Dylan McClister, defender John Stever, forward Andrew Gaug and forward Brutus Mackeny. The sophomores on the team include defender Pat Fedorko, forward Guarrieri, goalie Brian Azrolan, defender Wayne Hannon and defender Sean Adamcik, while the freshman are forward Crafford, forward Adam Tecle, defender Brandon Huang, forward Zach Wright, forward Max Zeidel, forward Nick Chepiga, forward Tommy Kim and forward Colton Bodner.
Lawrence senior Matt Azrolan shared goaltending duties with his sophomore brother Brian in Lawrence’s opening game.
”I got to play both goalies tonight,” said Borowsky, “and both goalies played strong. Matt’s the senior and as of now he’ll get to start the big games, but Brian’s showing a lot of potential so they could be battling it out against each other. I’d hate to be in that house.”
Lawrence takes on Robbinsville tomorrow and then plays Hopewell Valley on Monday.
”We’re lucky, we have a little bit of an easy schedule in our first week,” said Borowsky. “We’re looking to prepare for Hopewell in the upcoming week and then we have West Windsor-Plainsboro North back to back, next Thursday and the following Monday.”