High School Ice Hockey:
Cinnaminson Rallies To Edge Neumann

Monday, January 31, 2000

By Mike Costantino
SJSports Staff Writer

Cinnaminson came back from a three-goal deficit and defeated St. John Neumann 7-6 in a see-saw affair that wasn't decided until the final seconds. With both teams jockeying for playoff seeding, the intensity level seemed higher and made for an entertaining game. Neumann took the lead at 1-0 when Robbie Zeoli scored with just over two minutes left in the first period. With just thirty ticks left on the clock, Joe Lagambi shot the puck from the point and by the screened goaltender to make it 2-0.

Eddie Marker, who literally got off a plane and came straight to the game, scored early in the second period and it was 3-0. But Cinnaminson fought back, scoring three goals in just over five minutes. First Pat Sanford made it 3-1, scoring on the power play, and Anthony Mottola scoring twice in three minutes tying the game at 3-3. Fifteen seconds after Cinnaminson tied the game, Chris Gagliardi for Neumann scored from just inside the circle, and Neumann headed into the third period with the 4-3 lead.

At the twelve minute mark, Bill DeVece tied the score at 4-4 for Cinnaminson. Over the next few minutes, both teams had chances but failed to convert. With seven minutes left in the game Cinnaminson went on the power play, but a turnover led to a breakaway for Marker and his short-handed goal gave Neumann the 5-4 lead. Cinnaminson would tie it on the same power play as Bob Frick converted and it was 5-5. Tom Wood gave Cinnaminson the lead at 6-5 with three minutes left in the game, and John Oliver scored into an empty net to make it 7-5. Jim Porrecca scored with thirteen seconds left, but Cinnaminson hung on for the 7-6 victory.

Photos by Boog Williams

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