Dec. 8 news and notes: KJS United opens with commanding win

Kinnelon-Jefferson-Sparta went through regular-season divisional play in the Halvorsen last year without a single loss in eight games.

That streak is now up to nine, as it picked up an impressive 5-1 win over Madison in the Halvorsen opener for both sides at Skylands Ice World.

Logan Winslow, a senior who had just nine points (5 g., 4 a.) last season, had two goals and. two assists for KJS United. Anthony Prunty contributed a goal and two assists, while freshman Braydon Sisco contributed a goal and an assist in his first varsity action. Sophomore Cormac Gibbons also netted his second career goal in the win.

Sisco, Winslow, and Prunty all struck in a span of five minutes in the first period to give the team a commanding 3-0 lead.

Rylan Gibbons put together a strong performance in net, stopping 25 of 26 shots en route to the victory.

For Madison, Kyle Piechnik scored late in the first period to trim the deficit to two. Bryan Worthington stopped 33 of 38 shots in the loss.

POPE JOHN BOUNCES BACK

A day after losing to Bergen Catholic in overtime- the first regular-season overtime game under the new rules for this season- Pope John bounced back with a 2-0 win over Passaic Tech at the Ice Vault.

Senior Matt Hughes scored with 59 seconds left in the second period, before Robbie Myshkoff buried an empty-netter in the third to seal it. Sophomore Anthony Connetta- in his second-straight start to open the year- earned his first career shutout with 23 saves.

Pope John out-shot Passaic Tech, 37-23 in the game. It will resume Gordon Conference play on Wednesday when it travels to face Seton Hall Prep.

CHATHAM GIRLS VICTORIOUS IN MENEGHIN’S DEBUT

The Chatham girls team picked up a solid 3-0 win over Westfield at Gumbert Park in the head coaching debut for Kayla Meneghin.

Sophomore Alex Donoghue, sophomore Sarah Nacinovich, and freshman Simone Claps each scored for Chatham in the win. It was the first career varsity goal for Claps.

Goalies Megan Cincotta and Emma Acomb combined to earn the shutout.

Chatham will face Summit on Wednesday in its next game.

MADISON GIRLS EARN DOMINANT WIN

A Madison team which has struggled in recent years opened the season in a big way on Friday, as it took down Princeton, 8-3 for a season-opening win.

Mia McSherry had a hat trick and an assist, while Ava Haralampoudis tallied two goals and two assists for the Dodgers. The team scored five goals in the second period after both sides played to a 1-1 tie after the first period.

Freshman Leah Jobe had a goal and an assist in her first varsity game. Catie Leary and Izzy Hunter also scored for Madison, with junior Emma Wirth dishing out two assists. Junior Iris Piskula stopped 17 of 20 shots to earn the win.

Madison will travel to face Kent Place on Monday at 4 p.m.

Coaches are asked to e-mail box scores to michaelgurnis@gmail.com for inclusion in nightly recaps