Gov. Livingston Ice Hockey Falls to Parsippany

This winter has marked a mostly frustrating campaign on the ice for the Gov. Livingston hockey team.

Saturday as another close battle that left the team just shy on the scoreboard. Despite launching 41 shots on goal, Gov. Livingston suffered a 9-6 loss to Parsippany on the ice at Union Sports Arena. The defeat left the Berkeley Heights squad with a 1-7 record, but more confounding was it marked the fifth time a setback has come by a three goals or less.

“That’s been one of things that’s been hard to take,” said senior forward Ryan Grum, who finished with one goal in the contest. “Except for a couple of our losses we’ve been in every game.  We’re working hard and we  just have to continue to keep doing that.”

Things could not have begun any better for Gov. Livingston as senior Teddy Udelsman scored off the rush just 16 seconds after the opening puck was dropped for a 1-0 lead. But that advantage was surrendered as Parsippany struck for two goals before the first ended and took a 1-0 lead after 15 minutes.

Udelsman came through midway through the second to knot it at 2-2, but again Parsippany netted three more goals—sandwiched between Grum’s tally--before the second concluded to forge a 5-3 lead.

Bobby Busold, who led all scorers with four goals, delivered his final two early in the third to extend the  Parsippany advantage to 7-3.

Drew Miller and Jake Niemela scored two minutes apart late in the third as Gov. Livingston rallied, but Parsippany’s empty net goal by Mike DeZenzo with 28 seconds left halted the comeback. Matt Arrigoni finished the game with 21 saves, while Udelsman and Miller each scored twice for Gov.  Livingston.

Gov. Livingston, which went 11-10-4 last season, is still trying to rebuild after graduating 14 seniors from the 2010 roster.

“Sure it’s been tough in a lot of our games,” said Gov. Livingston coach Dave Scales. “We’re still trying to use different combinations because we lost so many good players from last year. We’re playing a three defensemen system on most shifts and Parsippany is a good team. We’ll keep working.”