HOCKEY BLITZES PAST HOLY GHOST
DECEMBER 13 – HACKENSACK, NJ – The Crusaders got things rolling early and often as Holy Ghost Prep visited the Ice House on Wednesday. Seniors Matt Maglio and Alex Frassetto rang the bell in the opening five minutes to put the Crusaders up by a pair of goals. Maglio’s goal was assisted by linemates, Jacob Carver and Harrison Udis. Frasetto was unassisted. Late in the period, Maglio found sophomore Will Schlechtweg pulled up in transition, ripping a wrist shot glove-side high to put Bergen up three after one period.
The Firebirds had a power play early in the second period. The Crusader penalty killers scored a man-down goal three minutes into the period. Holy Ghost showed why they are coming off a state championship season, quickly answering with a power play goal to finish that penalty. Quinn Scribner, Alex Frassetto, Thomas Keough and Udis played solid defense in front of Erez Yacobi and killed off a second two-minute penalty by the Crusaders and the home team needed to change momentum.
After missing a scoring opportunity right in front of the net, BC overcommitted offensively, allowing for a Ghost skater to break away off a rebound. He translated his one-on-none into a goal and the lead was cut in half 4-2 halfway through the period.
BC was unable to take advantage of a power which ended around the 5 minute mark. Maglio had a wide open look after receiving a pass from Declan Quinn, but the goalie made a phenomenal save, keeping Prep in the game.
The Crusaders got some nifty passing to register their fifth goal with just 33.9 seconds left in the middle period. Maglio centered the puck from the wing to Schechtleg who slid the puck forward to Keough who converted the tic-tac-toe, giving BC a 5-2 advantage and momentum heading into the third period.
The Firebirds finally inched closer with a goal at the 6:10 mark, making the score 5-3. Yacobi made a dazzling stick save and was helped by Quin Scribner, playing crease defense and knocking a centering pass to the side.
The final ninety seconds saw a flurry of shots, but Yacobi was lights-out, turning away all six including a break away, a couple of point-blank wrist shots and two rebounds.
| TEAM | 1 | 2 | 3 | FIN |
| Holy Ghost (PA) | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| Bergen Catholic (3-0) | 3 | 2 | 0 | 5 |
GOALS: , Matt Maglio (2), Alex Frassetto (1), Will Schlechtweg (1), Thomas Keough (1)
ASSISTS: Maglio (2), Jacob Carver (1), Harrison Udis (1), Declan Quinn (1), Schlechtweg (1)
SAVES/GA/SAV%: Erez Yacobi (W) (26/3/.897)
