YOU GOTTA BELIEVE

With a goal by sophomore Jason Zimmel with 3:18 remaining in the game, the incredible run by Middletown South ended with a Handchen Cup Championship after a 4-3 win over Brick Memorial at the Red Bank Armory.

Playing in front of a packed house dominated by South fans, the Eagles jumped out to a quick lead on a goal by senior Joe Demaio, assisted by senior Pat O’Donnell, four minutes in to the game. Later in the period, junior Matt Johnson broke away from the defenders and scored to put the Eagles up by two. Tyler Ralph then ended the period on a high note for South by putting a goal in with 57 seconds left in the period.

Sophomore Chris Marsillo was tested in the second period, facing 14 shots on goal. A power-play goal 4 minutes into the period brought the Mustangs to within two with the score at 3-1.

At the beginning of the third period, Brick Memorial showed that they would not go quietly into the night. Eleven seconds in, the Mustangs closed the lead to one with a slap shot off the faceoff. Six minutes later, they scored again to tie the game.

With the Mustangs holding all the momentum, Eagles head coach Stan Gutt called his timeout right before the ensuing faceoff, to calm his team down.

After Zimmel’s (pictured above) goal, Marsillo and the South defense held off the Mustangs, even with the extra defender. The fans counted the seconds off the clock, and the Eagles mobbed Marsillo in the crease in celebration of the first “A” Division championship for the program since its inception in 2000.

(PHOTO COURTESY HOCKEY IN MIDDLETOWN)