The Verona-Glen Ridge Hockey team had its 2011 season opener against Pequannock on Saturday night. With the loss of 10 seniors after last season, VGR had some big skates fill. They did, but not quite enough: The final score was 4-4.
Pequannock’s Liam Kealy was the first to score almost five minutes into the first period on a power play goal. Two of Pequannock’s four goals were on power plays. From there on out, it was a back and forth game. Glen Ridge junior Matt Martell was the first to put the puck in the back of the net for VGR.
In the second period, Verona Senior Patrick Sullivan scored to tie the game up at two apiece before heading the locker room. Eight minutes into the third, Verona senior and Co-Captain Chris Lapone gave VGR its first lead of the game. However, Pequannock answered back strongly scoring two goals in four minutes.
Fortunately, Glen Ridge senior and Co-Captain Matt Lander was in the right place at the right time and scored with 51 seconds left. Lander also scored a last-second goal, but it was disallowed because the net had been kicked out of its place. VGR was unable to take back the lead, and the game ended in a tie. Bob Maguire, a Verona junior, had two assists in the game.
Surprisingly, VGR’s second game of the season, which was played Monday night against Montclair, ended in a 4-4 tie as well. However, this time VGR had a 3-0 going into the third period. Verona senior goalie Matt Brehne let in Montclair’s first two goals within four minutes of each other. After being plagued with many penalties, VGR let Montclair’s Sam Shatz, who had Montclair’s first goal, score with 20 seconds left on a five-on-three power play to tie the game up. VGR’s Lander had two goals in the game.
VGR now sits at 0-0-2 with its next game on Wednesday against a bitter division rival, Montclair Kimberley Academy, at 4:15 p.m. at Codey Arena.
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