High School Ice Hockey:
Two Guys Named Joe Lead Township Into Semi-finals

Friday, February 26, 1999

By Mike Costantino
SJSports Staff Writer

Joe Gori scored three goals all on the power-play and Joe Pelle had a goal and two assists to lead Washington Township passed Edgewood 7-3 and into the semi-finals in the SJHSIHL playoffs. After a scoreless first period which saw Township outshoot Edgewood 18-3 only to be stoned by goalie Ed Mickus, Gori scored early in the second period with Derek Poletis and Steve Brown assisting and the 1-0 lead.

Edgewood scored the next two goals as Livesey and Hindley tallied and midway through the second period it was 2-1. The lead did not last long as Gori scored his second of the game two minutes later with the assists to Adam Zaccaria and Steve Brown. Again Edgewood responded as Glick scored on the end of a 3-on-2 break with just over three minutes left in the second period. Edgewood had the lead again at 3-2. With the partisan crowd getting restless, Township responded and would score two goals twenty-eight seconds apart. Gori completed his hat trick with Poletis and Pelle the helpers, then Bob Strauss gave Township the lead for good at 4-3 with the assist to Brian Davis.

Entering the third period despite being out-shot 34-12, Edgewood was only down by a goal and seemed to be getting more confident. But when Pelle scored in the first minute of the third period on a feed from Eric Marano, and fifty-five seconds later Billy Verdeccio scored to make it 6-3, that confidence would fade and Township would advance. Dan Fratantoro closed out the scoring with Pelle assisting.

Township now plays Eastern on Monday at the Coliseum at 7:00 PM.