Pt. Boro Panthers

Farmingdale - Led by Steven Kovaleski's first high school hat trick, the Panthers rolled to a 4-1 victory over Jackson Liberty to move within one divisional win of clinching a spot in the Shore Conference's Dowd Cup Tournament. 

     The Panthers took the lead 5:38 into the 1st period when Carter Klotz made a perfect head-man pass to spring Kovaleski onto a breakaway.  Kovey outraced a Liberty defender, faked Jackson's goaltender, Christian Shissias, opening up the five-hole and burried the puck for a 1-0 Boro lead.  Less than three minutes later, Kovaleski struck again unassisted, to put the Boro up 2-0.

     Jackson Liberty was able to cut the lead in half when Tyler Desena beat Panther goaltender Nate Bissey, ending the 1st period with a 2-1 lead for the Panthers.  The 2nd period started strong for Jackson Liberty, but they were unable to beat Bissey, who posted 30 saves in the game and was outstanding throughout the contest.  Kovaleski completed the hat trick 9:01 into the period giving the Boro some breathing room going into the intermission.

     In the 3rd, the Panthers concentrated on preserving the lead without giving up the pressure that had worked over the first two periods.  The bounces continued to go the Panther's way, however, when Tom Santos took a long slap shot from the point that found the upper left corner of the Jackson Liberty net giving the Boro an insurance goal and a 4-1 lead which would stand.

     The win puts the Panthers right in the middle of the Shore Conference tournament hunt.  Currently, the Panthers sit in the 4th and final playoff spot with three divisional games remaining.  The Boro is tied in points with Jackson Liberty who has one divisional game remaining, but the Boro holds the tie breaker.  The Panthers are two points ahead of RBR, who have two divisional games left, but the Boro also holds that tie breaker due to goals for/against in head to head competition.  This means that the Panthers control their own destiny, since one divisional win would clinch a spot in the post-season.  Additionally, the Panthers are only four points behind 2nd place Ocean Township.  The Spartans only have one divisional game remaining and it is Sunday versus the Boro.  Therefore, the Boro can finish in second place in the division by winning their remaining three divisional games, or winning one of the next two (Marlboro and St, Rose) and then defeating Ocean by at least two goals.  Ocean Township beat the Panthers in their first meeting 5-4, so the Panthers would need a two goal win to secure the tie breaker.  A one goal win over Ocean would result in 2nd place being decided by a coin toss.