Fox Lane Defeats Byram Hills 2-1 in Hockey Playoffs

Fox Lane's ice hockey team brought home a big 2-1 win over Byram Hills in the opening round of the Division II ice hockey playoffs Monday. The Foxes had a stingy defense and received an amazing game from goalie Cody Williams.

In their first playoff appearance in three years, the Foxes went onto the ice visibly determined. Coming off a painful season last year and starting this season with Charles Berger as the new head coach, the Foxes quickly showed the league they were much improved. 

Since he took over as coach, Berger talked about upping the tempo while getting more physical on the ice. After a season of working on those goals, the Foxes proved just how ready they were when it came game time.

Both teams came out in top form. Byram Hills controlled play at first but was unable to take advantage of an early power play. After escaping the Bobcats' onslaught on net, the Foxes rallied and pushed into Byram Hills' zone and got on the board first when Joe Corsi grabbed a rebound and scored for a 1-0 lead.

The Bobcats came back with added intensity, forcing the Foxes to focus on defense and scramble to keep the Bobcats' hungry offense from tying the score. 

In the second, Byram Hills continued to pressure Fox Lane's defense, and Ryan Basmajian tied the score at 1-1 with 13 minutes left in the second period.

Fox Lane immediately responded. Less than minute after Basmajian's goal, Donnie Castaldo scored an unassisted miracle goal when the puck hit Byram Hills' goalie and bobbled up over his shoulder and trickled into the net.

Again after Castaldo's goal the Foxes played defensive hockey, scrambling to keep the Bobcats out of the zone in front of the net. The Bobcats pushed hard to even the score but were turned down by unlucky bounces and a quick defense that was stingy in front of Williams.

In the last minutes of the third period, the bleachers roared and the fans stood on their feet as the Bobcats pushed line after line into the Foxes zone, desperately trying to tie the game. With a minute left, the Bobcats pulled their goalie but they just couldn't get through to tie the game.  

With one last shot on Cody Williams and yet another great save, the Foxes clinched their first playoff game in three years, proving just how serious of a threat they are in the playoff race.

For Williams, who had 30 saves, the win couldn't have been on a better day. It was his birthday. 

"He played the best game of his life," said Berger, who looked both thrilled and stunned. "The team was so tight tonight. They wanted it desperately and it showed. I can't even describe how happy I am right now."

The win sends the Foxes into a second-round matchup against top-seed Rye on Wednesday.