A showdown between two top Shore hockey teams didn't go as expected
Tuesday night's game between Christian Brothers Academy and St. John Vianney was supposed to be a matchup of the top two non-public hockey teams at the Shore. Instead, it was a demonstration that CBA is in a class by itself locally.
The Colts dominated from start to finish as they cruised past the Lancers to get a 6-0 victory. They appeared to be laser-focused after narrowly getting past the top team playing a full Shore Conference schedule, Manalapan, earlier this month in a 2-1 victory in the final minute.
"When our guys are locked in, it won't take much," said CBA coach Andy Gojdycz. "And that's where we get frustrated with them. When they don't lock in, we know what they're potential is."
The latter part of that referenced when CBA appeared to ease off the gas pedal in the third period, as the team didn't score until the final minute. Gojdycz explained that was not ideal for the team heading into a pivotal matchup against Don Bosco on Wednesday. It also illustrates the prevailingly high expectations for a program that is only two years removed from winning the state title.
The Colts (11-4) were coming into the SJV meeting after sufferig their second loss of the season to reigning state champion St. Augustine, so they made the most of their opportunity to bounce back against a local rival and regain some confidence.
"We stick to that system we have. It's very offensive-minded," said Gojdycz. "We allow the opponents to make their adjustments against us, but we wanna keep that system running as much as we can. When we have to modify it, we will. But we're unfazed by other people, not in a bad way, we just know what we wanna do and we'll just run it as much as we can."
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Key plays: Goals came fast, early — and easy — for CBA
It took less than two minutes for CBA's offense to get started against the stout defense of SJV, a shocking dictation of the pace that also proved to be unrelenting.
Junior forward Logan Kenney got things started for CBA as he drilled a straight-away shot with 13:23 remaining in the first period. Sophomore Nicholas Desiderio extended the lead four minutes later and the Colts were off and running.
Heading into the second with a 3-0 lead, Desiderio swiftly extended the advantage with a goal just 14 seconds into the period. The typically suffocating SJV defense appeared to be on their heels for most of the game, which only further benefitted a CBA team that excels in controlling possessions and executing their system.
Desiderio finished off the win, and his hat trick, with the Colts' lone goal in the final period with less than a minute remaining. The sophomore has been a revelation for CBA this season, leading the team with 17 goals after his performance on Tuesday night. Coach Gojdycz reflected on the incredible leap his leading scorer has made this season as the Colts were in need of reliable production offensively.
"He's just a better player," he said. "And you can tell, the way he handles the puck, the way he shoots, his quick release. He's growing into that man we want him to be, which is great for him. He's definitely picking up the slack from what we've lost last year."
What it means
On one hand, Tuesday's game could be an outlier for either team. But then again, this late in the season is when teams firmly establish an identity. And the dichotomy of the performance means glimmering prospects for CBA and dire repercussions for SJV.
For the Lancers, the loss is a shock to the system. They had been neck-and-neck with Manalapan for the top spot in the Shore Conference, as exemplified by the 3-3 tie when the teams met earlier this month. Three days after that game, the Braves went and challenged CBA for 45 minutes until a late goal by the Colts sealed that result. By contrast, SJV lost 6-0.
The Lancers looked startling outmatched throughout the game, especially considering they had notched two wins against Gordon Conference foes earlier this season. Since then, they've lost four games in four attempts against teams from the elite conference of non-public hockey. Their record stands at 6-4-2 overall after going 1-4-2 in the month of January.
Simply put, the Lancers are in dire straits. They'll need to bounce back to have a chance at solidifying their status at the top of the Shore Conference, but the team is unlikely to receive a strong seed in the NJSIAA Non-Public state tournament.
For CBA, the win is a big confidence boost for a young team that seems to be finding its stride at the right time. They close out the season with several key games, none more important than the aforementioned home matchup against Don Bosco. They also face divisional foes Delbarton and Princeton Day before closing the regular season against Middletown South.
The win is a statement that the Colts aim to separate themselves from the pack and are ready for any challenge.
"I feel that we rise to any occasion with any team. Could be SJV, could be Don Bosco, it doesn't matter. Our guys come ready to go everyday," said Gojdycz. "No matter who the opponent is, we'll be as ready as we can be. But playoff hockey is its own animal."
This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Shore NJ CBA ice hockey: Christian Brothers Academy beats St. John Vianney
