High School Ice Hockey: Eastern Rallies To Tie Township Monday, January 26, 2004 By Mike Costantino SJSports Staff Writer Joey Johnston scored on the power play with less than five minutes left in the game as Eastern rallied from a 3-0 deficit to tie Washington Township 3-3 in the last scheduled game of the regular season. Eastern has a make-up game with Cherry Hill West on Thursday. The Vikings started out very sluggish and Township jumped on them early scoring all their goals in the first period. After Marco Jordan put Township up 1-0, Dave Smetaniuk increased the lead to 2-0 as his shot from the right circle squeezed through the five hole of Danny Meyers. Moments later Mike Rohach intercepted a bad clearing pass and was all alone in front and his quick shot put Township up 3-0. After Viking Coach Pontonio reminded his team that hockey was three periods not one, the Vikings came out and scored in the first twenty seconds of the period as Anthony Orner, on a nice feed from the point by Mike Kondrola, drove home a slap shot to cut the lead to 3-1. Meyers than made a big stop on a break away by Chris Keyser and just a few minutes after that play Orner found Sullivan in the slot and he wristed a shot into the net and suddenly it was 3-2. Meyers stoned Keyser again on a break and then with Eastern on a power play, Fred Brewer was stopped by Meyers again on a break. Eastern got the equalizer on the power play as Johnston raced up ice and his blast from the point found the net and the Vikings had their second tie of the season. I’m sure these teams will meet further down the road, possibly in the finals. Photos by Art Redd

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