R’ville wins seventh straight to reach semis
WEST WINDSOR >> The Robbinsville ice hockey team has been the hottest side in the Colonial Valley Conference for the last month, so the question was could it sustain it come tourney time.
The Ravens answered in a resounding way.
Fifth-seeded Robbinsville stunned fourthseeded Paul VI, 3-2, in a thrilling Mercer County Tournament quarterfinal game on Wednesday night on the ice at the Mercer County Skating Center.
The win sends the Ravens (10-6-2), who have now won seven straight, to the semifinals where they face top-seeded Hun on Feb. 12 at 6 p.m.
Robbinsville jumped to a 3-0 lead on three power play goals and then held off a furious Paul VI (12-62) rally in the final minutes as Justin Cooper came up big in the goal.
“This is the kind of game we have been waiting for since day one,” said Cooper, a senior. “Our season started off kind of rough and we are not denying that. To be able to string so many wins like this together and to know that we are not done yet makes it even more special.”
It was a special win, not only because it advanced the Ravens, but because it shows the grit, determination and character they are playing with during this seven-game winning streak.
“This is amazing,” said Ravens sophomore Mitchell Ducalo, who scored a pair of goals, including the one that proved to be the game winner.
“The last time we played them we lost 7-3 and to come out and beat them is awesome,” added Ducalo. “I just want to help the team out as much as I can and putting two in was big.”
As big as it was for the Ravens, it was crushing for the Eagles.
“We have to be smarter,” said Paul VI coach Nick Miller. “We put ourselves in bad situations and that is what happens this time of the year, Teams are going to take advantage of it and that is what happened.”
Freshman Jason Gallucci got the other goal for the Ravens, while Gallucci, Ducalo, Jeremy Van Duren and Jack Pallitto all picked up assists.
The two Paul VI goals came off the stick of Cameron Chandler with Angelo Taormina getting two assists and Bailey Guetens helping on one.
“We are playing with some of our best hockey,” said Ravens coach Rob Davis. “We came out strong and played exactly the way I expected us to if we were going to win this game. It showed in the first period.”
The Eagles pulled to 3-2 in the third period before pulling the goal in the final 1:40 to play 6-on-5.
“You check the clock and see how much time is left and you know you’re up by one,” said Cooper. “You know you just have to bear down, and I was confident.”
Robbinsville (9-7-2) 1 2 0 — 3 Paul VI (12-6-2) 002—2
Goals: R: Ducalo 2, Gallucci. PVI: Chandler 2.. Assists: R: Gallucci, Van Duren, Ducalo. Pallitto. PVI: Taormina 2 Guetens. Shots: R: 26, PVI: 36. Saves: R: Cooper 34, PVI: Rodgers 23.