Cantando's Goal Not Enough As Bonner Ice Hockey Falls

The Bonner hockey team had a much better showing the second time around against O'Hara, but that effort still wasn't enough, as the Friars fell to the Lions, giving O'Hara the season sweep.
The early moments on were interesting, and very physical. The two teams, and schools, aren't exactly friends, and it showed in the early moments of the first period. Both clubs totaled for 62 penalty minutes in the first. A skirmish broke out between four Bonner and O'Hara players, two from each side. All four players received 10 minute game misconduct penalties, and five minute major penalties for fighting. Each of them were ejected from the game. O'Hara did gain a 2 minute power play after a Bonner player was called for cross-checking on the same play, which happened less than three minutes into the game. The game did not turn into "Friday Night Fights" as it looked like it was going to, as they did get the game started up again after a five minute delay to sort out penalties. O'Hara drew first blood on a goal from senior Ricky DeRosa. Less than a minute later, Steve Falcone scored to give the blue and red a 2-0 lead. Ex-Bonner player Mike Marconi added two for O'Hara in the first, including one in which he deked a Bonner player and the goalie, to give the boys from Springfield a 4-0 lead after one period of play.
The second period was not much better for the Friars. Jeff Beck scored three minutes into the stanza. Falcone recorded his second of the night three minutes later. But finally, Bonner had something to cheer about. Dylan DiPhillipo was able to sneak the puck past O'Hara goalie Jeff Holland's right pad to put the Friars on the board. However, the Bonner momentum was quickly taken away. After what should have been an elbowing penalty at center ice, Marconi completed the hat trick off an assist from Falcone. This prompted a Friar fan to say "the refs look good in red and blue." Falcone recorded his second of the night on the power play two minutes later. With eight seconds left, Bonner's senior captain Rob Cantando took a pass from the point and blasted it from the blue line by Holland for a power play goal, and his seventh goal of the year.
Nothing went Bonner's way on the night, and it continued in the third period. O'Hara kept jamming at the puck by the crease, and it was able to slip past goalie Steve Gallo. However, he recovered and stuck his glove hand out to keep the puck from going over the line. But the referee closest to the net called it a goal, and it just added insult to injury (I had a great view of the puck. It was on the red line). The puck must completely clear the red line in order to count as a goal, and it did not. The referees had a short conference, but the goal stood. Getting credit for that goal was Jeff Beck for his second of the night. Bryan Reed tallied for O'Hara three minutes later, and Falcone recorded another for a hat trick shortly after. The guy who started the scoring ended it, as DeRosa scored to put the game away with four minutes left.
Although the score was tilted entirely to one side, Bonner goalie Steve Gallo played well, stopping 32 shots, and made some very tough saves. Holland stopped 13 of 15 shots faced his way. Bonner was completely outmatched by a very talented and fast O'Hara team. With the loss, Bonner falls to 6-5-1 overall, but they remain in first place in the PCL Blue at 6-1, two points ahead of Roman Catholic and Archbishop Wood. Up next for the Friars is a date with the Ridley Raiders on Friday. Bonner defeated Ridley in a Christmas tournament a couple weeks back. The rematch is set for Friday, January 15th, at 8:15, and will be played at Ice Works in Aston.

Notes: Apparently the Bonner crowd thought the game was canceled or moved to another night. I arrived at about 7:15, and for about thirty minutes, was the only Bonner student there, and received a nice greeting from the O'Hara fans. Very nice. Also, Spiderman and a gorilla showed up to the game. Must have given the Lions an edge.

For the basketball fans, Bonner takes on Perkiomen Valley at Perkiomen Valley tonight, Wednesday, at 7:30. They'll return to Catholic League action on Friday night against North Catholic. That game will be in the Bonner gym, and also take place at 7:30.