Despite getting out of the gate 1-2, Old Bridge High School’s ice hockey team is optimistic that will turn around after posting a 12-9-2 mark last season.
The Knights are coming off a disappointing 2-1 loss at Woodbridge High School Dec. 14. The match was scoreless through two periods. The host squad scored twice early in the third session. Old Bridge rallied to dominate the final 10 minutes but could only muster a goal by Steve Saporito. Goalkeeper Dan Rubin was solid, turning aside 35 Barrons shots.
“We had a nice comeback in our previous game. This time it was too little, too late,” Knights coach Damien LoNigro said. “We’re still trying to mold them into a cohesive team, but they’re learning that they have to work for three periods.”
After opening the year with a 5-1 loss to Ocean Township High School Dec. 2, Old Bridge squared off against Monroe Township High School at home Dec. 9. The Knights found themselves down 1-0 after two periods. Third-period goals by Justin Aronson, Peter Hernandez and Tyler Kogut turned the tide for LoNigro’s team.
Kogut, who topped the team in scoring with 25 goals and 28 assists a year ago, leads a solid offense. Aronson is coming off a nine-goal, six-assist season, and Saporita scored five times a year ago. LoNigro is expecting even more from both this time around. Versatile junior Arthur Dzieniszewski scored twice and added 13 assists, while Hernandez, a sophomore, scored two goals and assisted on nine others.
Seniors Anthony Conti, Nora Fogarty, Rob McKiernan and junior Anthony Ferrero provide additional firepower up front along with freshman Martha Dzieniszewska.
The Knights are strong defensively with Rubin back for his third season between the pipes. The senior turned in a goals-against average under 3.00 last winter and is off to a strong start. Junior Matthieu Schroeder is the reserve goaltender.
“Goaltending is our strength,” the coach said. “Rubin’s the kind of goalie who can steal a couple of games for you. He nearly did it against Woodbridge.”
On the blue line, Old Bridge is young, yet experienced. Sophomore James Silva is a solid two-way player who scored a goal and added eight assists last year. Senior Steven Figueroa, sophomore Kevin Haslach and freshman Heather Figueroa are also on the backline. Junior Jack Morris, who has the hardest shot on the team, is back after missing last season with a knee injury.
“This year, we purposely made the schedule a little tougher,” LoNigro said. “It will be a good test for our guys. We need to raise our level of intensity, and I think that will come with time as our younger players mesh with our seniors. Our goal is to hit our stride for the [Greater Middlesex Conference] and state tournaments.”