Red Bank Catholic Edges Brick, 4-2, for Handchen Cup Championship

RED BANK -- For only the second time this season, and the first time in nearly three months,  Brick High School lost an ice hockey game.

The top-seeded Green Dragons suffered a 4-2 setback to second-seeded Red Bank Catholic, 4-2, on Friday.  The Caseys  won their third Handchen Cup, second title in the last four seasons.

RBC last captured the Handchen Cup in 2008, again beating Brick, then 4-1.

Back on Dec. 8, the CBA Colts defeated Brick 5-1. In the next three months

Brick enteered the title game riding a 19-0-1 record, with 18 of the wins coming in succession. Two of the victories came in hard fought games vs. RBC.

"I think we played a heck of a game," Brick head coach Bob Auriemma said. "They came out aggressive and are a very good team. It's frustrating."

RBC, which won its seventh straight game, came out in a physical way early on, and maintained that style of play throughout. Not many teams have been able to keep pace with the physicality of the Green Dragons this season.

Despite outshooting the Caseys, 15-8, in the first period, Brick trailed 1-0. With three minutes and 56 seconds played, the Green Dragons were caught on the wrong side of a 2-on-1 as the Caseys got the first goal of the game.

 RBC came close to doubling the lead with five minutes to play in the first period as Brick goaltender Eddie Rafferty made an initial stop but could not track down the rebound, which went wide across the crease.

The Green Dragons' play picked up as the period went on, and Brick almost tied it up by virtue of Matt Gumina and Brendan Dowd teaming up on a 2-on-1 opportunity. Gumina carried the puck wide as he crossed the blueline; the defender picked up Dowd streaking through the middle, and as Gumina backhanded the puck on net and the rebound looked prime for Dowd to send home, the puck bounced over his stick.

A power play was awarded as Gumina was hooked on his way to the net.

Fifty-nine seconds remained on the power play for the Green Dragons as play in the second period began. Time ran out and Brick soon found itself living on the edge as the Caseys were rewarded a man advantage with 13:14 remaining in the second.

A few dangerous chances were turned away by Rafferty as the Green Dragons came to life.

Gumina and Dowd came through twice in the second for Brick's only goals.

Killing time in the corners on the PK, the pair went to work offensively. Dowd took the puck behind the net and attempted a wrap-around. His attempt was foiled but the rebound bounced to Gumina as he tied the score on a shorthanded goal with 11:21 to go.

Ten seconds after the goal, Dowd drew a tripping penalty after a faceoff. On the ensuing power play, the Green Dragons came close many times, with the best chance coming as Brian Murphy hit the post. 

The power play came up empty, and a few minutes later Tyler Martin hit the post as well.

Brick took a 2-1 lead into the locker room as Gumina scored on a one-timer, as Dowd picked up another assist with 1:46 remaining in the period.

An early third period Caseys power play helped tie the game on a deflected shot.

"Nothing (Rafferty) could have done there, tough to stop," Auriemma said.

With 3:54 tp play, RBC took back the lead -- after Rafferty shut down a Caseys 2-on-1 sliding over and getting a piece of the puck with his blocker for his best save of the night.

The Dragons pressed after the goal, but it was not meant to be.

An empty net goal sealed the deal for RBC with 13 seconds to play.

"A lot of the game falls on me," Auriemma said. "I really needed to get the third line involved more and for whatever reason, didn't."

Brick held a 31-27 shots advantage.

Brick's next game will be in the second round of the NJSIAA playoffs.  The Green Dragons are second-seeded in Public B and hold a first-round bye.