VIA NJ.COM:
Top-seeded Don Bosco Prep showed why it’s the top high school hockey team in New Jersey Wednesday night.
Tsubasa Konishi scored just nine seconds into overtime to lead the No. 1 Ironmen over fifth-seeded St. Augustine, 5-4, in the semifinals of the Gordon Cup at Ice Vault in Wayne.
Bosco, ranked No. 1 in the NJ.com Top 20, trailed 4-3 after two periods and needed a power-play, third-period goal by Thomas Schweighardt from Connor Sedlak to tie it up and force overtime. Goalie Max Schwarz hung on to make 19 saves. Konishi finished with two goals while Mickey Burns and George Weiner also scored for Bosco. Sedlak tallied four assists.
St. Augustine, ranked No. 4, found themselves down 3-2 after Burns scored with 7:54 left in the second, but Kyle Knight and Jared Hannah put the Hermits ahead. Dom Guido and Brendann Karnish also scored for St. Augustine in the first. Netminder Ben Sheehan made 37 saves in the loss.
Coming into the game St. Augustine coach Tim Fingerhunt mentioned that his team needed to stay out of the penalty box to have a chance against the Ironmen. The Hermits committed five penalties and it proved costly.
“You have to play them 5-on-5,” Fingerhut said on Monday. “You have to stay out of penalty box. They’re very talented both offensively and defensively and the last you want is to play shorthanded. “We got to be physical.”
The final round will feature a matchup of the ages. Not only will it be the top seed versus the second seed, but it is also a battle between the top two teams in the state. Bosco will meet No. 2 Delbarton for the third time this season. Bosco already won the previous head-to-head games.
Don Bosco Prep and Delbarton will once again in the championship game on Friday at 8:00 p.m. at Codey Arena in West Orange.