December
12, 2003
March 21,
BAYONNE - Bayonne and Clifton have been two of the storied hockey programs in North Jersey. In the process, the two have had a rivalry that has been budding over the past decade through classic games. But this year is a bit different for both teams as both were lacking in experience and depth as the new season got underway.
With that being the case, speed, solid goaltending and execution are of the utmost importance if either is going to its annual appearance in the state tournament as the two teams faced off yesterday at Rich Korpi Arena.
Bayonne scored on consecutive shots early in the first period and senior goaltender Fred "The Duke" Fulton stopped the final 22 shots he faced as the Bees continued their hot start to the season behind a three-goal, two-assist performance from Anthony Cortese in a 6-1 romp.
The game was season-opener for Clifton and the Bees rudely welcomed them. Cortese put the Bees on the board first 3:43 into the contest with a goal off a feed from Mark Harrington with the second assist going to Matt Gillen.
Just over a minute later, Cortese created a turnover behind the Clifton net and fed Gillen, who was parked in the slot. Gillen took a peek and tucked one past Mustang keeper Chris Donini for a quick 2-0 lead.
"Every time we play Clifton we are that much more pumped up and focused to win," said Cortese. "We don't have the size to match up with most teams, so we have to use our quickness and start strong. Our team feels that if we can give (Fulton) a lead, that we are in good shape to win against anybody."
Clifton came out with a bit of the first game jitters, but came on strong after Gillen's goal and dominated the remainder of the opening period. Craig Junda grabbed a loose puck in the defensive zone and went coast-to-coast. He deked a defender at the blue line, and then tucked a backhand past Fulton and just inside the right post to cut the lead in half, 2-1.
The chances kept coming for Clifton, but Fulton bore down and held off the surge. The Stangs nearly tied the game up with seconds to go in the period on a 2-on-1 breakaway, but Anthony Yelovich's shot went high with the Bees clinging to a one-goal lead.
"I think if we hit on at least one of those chances, maybe it's a different game," said Clifton head coach Tom Danko. "Then we started to turn the puck over again and they capitalized on that. This is a young team and this is a learning experience for the younger players. Against any team, especially Bayonne, you can't turn the puck over as often as we did and expect to win. All five players have to be on the same page and we weren't over the final two periods."
A Mustang turnover fueled a rush up the ice by the speedy Cortese and his slapper from inside the blue line was deflected past Donini 4:03 into the second stanza to make it 3-1. Gillen followed suit four minutes later when another Clifton turnover started a 3-on-1 breakaway. His initial shot was saved, but he stuck with it and tucked home the rebound to make it 4-1.
"Our first line really came through for us," said Fulton. "They are so fast and show such great leadership that it rubs off on everyone. I live two houses away from (Cortese) my whole life, so I know what he's capable of. I know when (the first line) scores goals like they did, it's up to me to hold the lead up and come through. I like that kind of challenge and it fires me up."
Clifton had two chances to get back in the game when it had a power-play opportunity and a Yelovich breakaway in a three-minute span. The power-play was not effective as the Mustangs could not get off a shot, while Bayonne had four shots on goal during that time. Yelovich took a nice pass from Ian Meltzer and was one-on-one with the Duke, but was denied.
Cortese iced the game and a hat trick early in the third period and Bayonne, which beat Cranford, 5-0, in its season opener, improved to 2-0.
"We tried to draw their defensemen over and sneak backdoor for goals, it's beautiful when it is done correctly," said Bayonne head coach Harvey Boehm. "It was tough because Clifton is a mirror image of us with the way they run their offense and playing similar styles. This is a young team, but we're quick and we're hungry, and we'll see how far that takes us."
Fulton was a rock in between the pipes, saving 25 of 26 shots he faced. Offensively, Cortese finished with three goals and two assists and Gillen and Alex Pinelli, also shined. Gillen had two goals and three assists and Pinelli pitched in with three assists. Nick Brancatella added his first career varsity goal late in the third period, while Harrington, Andrew Suhovic and Brian Suhovic each chipped in with an assist.
Clifton (0-1) was outshot 27-26 and will look to regroup behind Donini, who had 21 saves.
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