PRINCETON: Panthers lose pair of finals

PDS ice hockey came on strong

By Justin Feil, Assistant Sports Editor
   The Princeton Day School boys ice hockey team began its season with just two wins in its first 11 games, but the Panthers skated all the way to back-to-back championship appearances.
   The Panthers ended up on the losing end of the Mercer County Tournament final and the prep state final. Top-seeded Notre Dame scored three third-period goals for a 4-1 win on Monday, then Morristown-Beard broke out after a scoreless first period for a 6-0 win Tuesday.
   ”Last night (against Notre Dame) was tougher to swallow,” said PDS head coach Scott Bertoli after Tuesday’s loss finished their season at 11-14-1. “In games like that where we felt like it was a game we could win, it makes it tougher.
   ”Tonight, we were with them for a period and maybe five minutes of the second, and I knew it would be a stretch to stay with them. We were just holding on. Once they scored a couple, in a way it’s not as deflating. In the third period against Notre Dame, we had a chance. Those linger longer if you had a chance.”
   The Panthers held a 1-0 first-period lead over Notre Dame on a power play goal by Max Popkin, who deflected in a Skye Samse shot. But in the second period, the Irish answered with a power play goal of their own. Then the Irish scored twice within 25 seconds less than two minutes into the third period.
   ”We’re a better team when we play from in front,” Bertoli said. “Playing in front for a period and a half is good for us because they’re used to playing 5- or 6-, 7-, 8-goals ahead all year long because of the teams they’re playing all the time and they can score goals. I’m sure they were frustrated at points.
   ”And the frustrating thing (for PDS) is you give them that first goal by taking two penalties and creating a 4-on-3 opportunity. You take that away, and maybe we’re leading going into the third period.”
   PDS had been in the same situation the first time it lost, 3-1, to Notre Dame two weeks ago. The Panthers showed improvement even since then.
   ”We played the way we needed to, especially in the first period,” Bertoli said. “I thought we actually carried the play, which I didn’t think we did that when we played them a couple weeks ago.
   ”Two weeks ago, we didn’t generate much offense,” he added. “We kept the game closer longer and gave up two goals on back-to-back shifts in the third, but it was late.”
   This time the goals came early in the third period and the Panthers could not find an answer before the Irish pulled away with an empty netter.
   ”I like the way we played for two periods,” Bertoli said. “I think we got into a little penalty trouble there in the second period and when you’re playing the same guys over and over and they’re doing the same thing, kids get tired and kids get mistakes and I think that wore us out a little in the third period.”
   The Panthers had the unenviable task of trying to bounce back less than 24 hours later to take on arguably a better team in Mo-Beard, which PDS had lost to early this season. The defending state champions came out hard and PDS never got its offense going even though goaltender Nick Jabs kept it scoreless through a period.
   ”They were good,” Bertoli said. “We played them really tough in December. They looked like a different team. We’ve come a long way, but they were so much better. They had three really good lines and made it tough. They were really aggressive.
   ”We had some chances early on. It was 0-0 after the first period. They were so aggressive though, it was just a matter of time. Nick had a number of spectacular saves. Then it was like the other day. They scored two in back to back shifts. It just broke our backs.”
   The Panthers didn’t have the depth to match Morristown-Beard, nor the legs left after putting a full effort out against Notre Dame the day before. Mo-Beard capitalized on their advantages.
   ”They were ready to go,” Bertoli said. “They had us back on our heels from the beginning. They were rested and fresh. Every kid on that team is a travel kid. I was impressed. They were considerably better than when we played them back in December.”
   So, too, were the Panthers as they put their best hockey together at the end of the season to reach a pair of championship games. PDS had hoped at least one would go their way.
   ”You keep putting yourself in this position, it’s good,” Bertoli said, “but you have to find a way to win one of them.”