High School Ice Hockey: Manny's Hat Trick Helps Cherokee Defeat Williamstown Monday, February 13, 2006 By Vincent Lewis SJSports Staff Writer The winner's bracket of the SJHSIHL had narrow itself down to just four teams and those teams advancing to the semifinals were Cherokee, Washington Township, Moorestown and Williamstown. During the Cherokee versus Williamstown game, both of these are capable of putting goals on the scoreboard. Right from the beginning of this game, Williamstown's objective was to match Cherokee's intensity, speed and physical play in order to defeat the defending champs. Kyle Manny would score Cherokee's first two goals of the game and they would not relinquish their momentum or their lead for the rest of the game. Cherokee would go on to defeat Williamstown 7-2 and advance to the finals of the winner's bracket against Washington Township. There were a total of thirteen penalties called during the first period alone. Cherokee would be awarded the first power play of the game but Williamstown would kill of that man advantage. When the Braves were called for their second penalty of the period, that’s when Cherokee took advantage. With 17 seconds remaining on the power play, Manny connected with Justin Kinniry and Charles Lotierzo to give the Chiefs the 1-0 with 4:28 remaining in the period. Less than a minute later Manny double Cherokee’s lead with a nice backhand goal. Kinniry would record Cherokee’s third goal of the period with a shorthanded goal. Williamstown would start the second period skating 5 on 3 for the first eight seconds of the period. Now skating with just an extra skater, Tom Ruiz cut Williamstown deficit to 3-1. Eric Finn and Dennis Cunard assisted on the goal. But Cherokee would respond by scoring the next four goals of the period. Manny would record his hat trick after Jake Davis and Kinniry scored their goals. Daniel Maugieri would score a shorthanded goal at the end of the second period giving Cherokee a 7-1 lead. Osterdahl would score the only goal during the final period. There were a total of thirty-three penalties called in this game which overshadowed Cherokee’s victory. Photos by Art Redd