December
20, 2003
March 21,
MONSEY, NY - Coming off of a 5-13 season in 2002, the Paramus Catholic ice hockey team was not near the top of anyone's board going into this year, but the Paladins have made an early statement that has them entering the radar screen.
The Paladins stand just one win away from matching last year's win total a week before Christmas after Friday night's 3-2 win over St. Joseph Regional at Sport-O-Rama in Monsey, N.Y.
While Pope John is clearly the favorite in the Northern Conference Red Division, the Paladins and head coach Ken Scarpa truly believe that they are a team that can battle for that second spot.
"Our goals are to keep moving the program forward," Scarpa said, "and do some of things that haven't happened around here in a while. We want to get into the top 20 in the state and I think we are capable. It's step by step, level by level."
"This school has not been in the state tournament for four years," Scarpa said. "To be right behind Pope John and get into the states and compete there, that's a solid accomplishment in front of us."
Through the first period, PC (4-1 overall, 2-1 in the Red) looked like the team Scarpa envisions. They went out to a 3-0 lead, capitalizing on some soft goaltending for two of the goals.
The first one seemed to be an innocent cross through the crease, but Jason Fortino's pass hit St. Joseph goalie Steven David's stick and caromed into the net. Chris Lisi was credited with an assist on the play.
Paramus Catholic made it 2-0 with 10:44 gone in the first. Mike Bury came in one a breakaway with Jesse Phillips. He got David to commit to him and fed Phillips on the left side for the score.
Lisi made it 3-0 with 29 ticks on the first period clock as he bulled his way through three Green Knights skaters down the center of the zone. He tipped the puck forward as he fell towards the net, and it eluded David (19 saves).
With the fortuitous lead, the Paladins did not take advantage of a very young SJR team. The Green Knights (1-5 overall, 0-2 in the Red) have only six seniors, and at one point they had four freshmen and a sophomore on the ice at the same time.
"We have to start learning the lesson," SJR head coach Rob McMorrow said. "We just don't come out strong in the opening period and it kills us. We went hard in the third period, and we were back in the game, but we can't keep climbing these mountains."
St. Joe's began its comeback with a goal by A.J. Bispo, who slapped one home from the left side of the cage off a pass from James Mills with 9:04 left in the game.
Mills made it a one-goal game just 18 seconds later. Kevin McMorrow threw a shot in front of the net, and Mills picked the puck out of a scramble and pushed it past Tom Biegel, who had 17 saves for the Paladins.
"We have to realize that we are not talented enough that we can just throw our sticks on the ice and expect to win," Scarpa commented, "as evidenced by tonight. You would think after the first period we were going to have an easy night of it, but it didn't play out that way."
Paramus Catholic was able to fend off the Green Knights down the stretch, pushing the majority of play into the St. Joseph zone. David could not get off the ice for the extra skater until 25 seconds were left, and the Knights did not have a good chance for the tie.
"We're taking our lumps," McMorrow added, "but we'll be alright. We need to gain confidence in our game and each other, and that comes with playing time. This is a good group of kids who will get better."
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