The start to the 2022-23 season was far from ideal for Pope John.
The Lions opened with three games against St. Augustine, Gloucester Catholic, and Don Bosco, and all three ended in losses by a combined score of 16-7.
It went into this week’s back-to-back with Gordon Conference-National Division rival Seton Hall Prep desperate for wins to get its season back on track. It came through as it defeated the Pirates 3-1 on Monday, before edging them again, 3-2 at home at Skylands Ice World on Wednesday.
Goals from Magnuss Bars, Jack Kelmer, and Emporio Iencio helped the Lions build a 3-1 lead through two periods, before it surrendered a late goal in the third. Tyler Paluzzi stopped 31 of 33 shots to secure the win for the Lions.
These two wins have vaulted Pope John into second place in the Gordon-National, giving it a 2-1 divisional record.
The Montville train just keeps on rolling.
The Mustangs continued their unbeaten start to the season in its first Charette Division game, a resounding 12-0 win in two periods over Parsippany Regional at Mennen Arena.
Ten different players found the back of the net for Montville, with Paul Kounouklos and Aidan Engle each recording two goals with an assist. Matthew Trifari, Matthew Crowell, and Marco Van De Graaf each added a goal and two assists. Alexis Riley recorded the first shutout of her career.
Montville is now 4-0-1 to start the year.
Randolph battled to a 1-1 tie in an out-of-conference test against Hunterdon Central at SportsCare Arena.
The Rams, which out-shot Hunterdon Central 37-16 in the game, were stymied by Central netminder Shawn Kline, who made 36 saves. Jase Zangara was the one to break through for Randolph early in the second period, but it surrendered a goal to Griffin Meyer with under three minutes to go in the period.
Connor Thomas stopped 15 of 16 shots for Randolph, which is now 3-0-1.
After winning just one game last winter, the Chatham girls team is experiencing a big turnaround.
It is off to a 4-0-1 start, with its latest win being an impressive 12-1 win over Princeton on Wednesday at Mennen Arena.
Maddie Jepsen recorded a hat trick, Kate Romano had a goal and four assists, and Sarah Nacinovich chipped in with two goals and two assists. Ali Chang added two goals and an assist, while Ella Chang had a goal and two assists.
It currently sits in first place in the NJIIHL-Cohen Division.
MORRIS-SUSSEX AREA SCOREBOARD
Gill St. Bernard’s 10, Morris Catholic-St. Elizabeth 0
Montville 12, Parsippany Regional 0
Randolph 1, Hunterdon Central 1
Pope John 3, Seton Hall Prep 2
Paramus-Lyndhurst-Hackensack 10, High Point-Wallkill Valley-Kittatinny 2
Girls: Chatham 12, Princeton 1
E-mail Mike Gurnis at michaelgurnis@gmail.com
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