 High School Ice Hockey:
Renzi Tallest Pirate as Neumann Remains Unbeaten
Friday, January 17, 2003
Andrew Renzi stopped forty-three shots to help St. John Neumann defeat Cinnaminson 5-3. With the win, Neumann remains undefeated in Tier 2 and has a showdown on Monday night with undefeated Cherry Hill. Neumann led 2-0 six minutes into the game. Mike Policella got them on the board first and Christopher Lanciano, with Neumann on the power play, made a great play to keep the puck in at the point found Mike Brown in the slot. Brown's quick shot made it 2-0. Meanwhile Cinnaminson was launching shots from every angle, but Renzi stood his ground. His best save coming when he stoned Anthony Mottola on a breakaway.
Cinnaminson finally broke through on their power play as Peter Cahill found the net on a pass from Mottola and Ian Buchanan. Early in the second period, Neumann over-skated the puck and Cinnaminson had Ryan Hulton and Mottola down low. Mottola would get the easy goal as Hulton drew Renzi over and slid the puck to Mottola to tie the game at 2-2. The teams traded goals over the last part of the period with Mike Riccardi scoring for Neumann and Mike Longo tallying for Cinnaminson.
Entering the third period tied at 3-3, Neumann wasted little time taking control as they scored two goals in about a minute's time. Ronald Tini was sent in and his slap shot put the Pirates up 4-3. The next scoring chance was on the power play. Lanciano broke down the right side and after being stopped, he reached from behind the net and poked the puck into the net. That goal made it 5-3 and put the game out of reach. Cherry Hill and Neumann will meet twice over the next two weeks, with the second meeting being for the Tier 2 championship.
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High School Ice Hockey:
