Fox Lane Hockey Back in Playoffs

The Fox Lane ice hockey team is happy to make the playoffs after failing to qualify in each of the past two seasons. But that doesn't mean the team doesn't have even higher aspirations.

"Some of them have never been in a playoff game and it's very exciting for them, but we've had a goal since day one and that's the section championship," Head Coach Charles Berger said. "We're happy to be in the playoffs but in no means are we satisfied. We want to go somewhere."

The Foxes (11-8-1) will be seeded anywhere from 5th to 8th when the seeds are determined Friday night, which means they are guaranteed to host a first-round playoff game on Monday.

"We just have to keep playing our game," said senior Conor Morris, a four-year varsity player. "Not worry about who we're playing against but concentrate on what we have to do. We're definitely not a high-scoring team but we defend really well and manage to put the puck in the net when we need to."

Fox Lane finished 5-18 last year but matched that win total in its first six games this season despite the presence of a new coaching staff. Berger said he thought the team would turn things around after seeing the work ethic when he took over in September.

"We started doing preseason stuff and the kids were ready to work, lifting and running," Berger said. "As soon as that happened, I thought that we could be successful."

The first game was actually against Berger's former team, Eastchester/Tuckahoe/Bronxville, which the Foxes won 4-1.

"We were underdogs in that game, and it was a statement win for us," Morris said. "We knew we had a solid person in net and everyone could work around him."

After a 1-0 loss to Kennedy/Putnam Valley, Fox Lane overcame a 3-1 deficit against Pearl River with five unanswered goals, and then goalie Cody Williams stopped 44 of 45 shots in a 2-1 win over Byram Hills.

The team developed an identity as a high-tempo, physical group who played solid defense and focused on putting the puck on net. The Foxes wound up finishing third out of eight teams in Conference III with a 5-2 record, behind only Division II contenders Rye and John Jay.

Williams is third in Section 1 in save percentage (92.15) and sixth in goals-against average (2.38), while Joe Corsi and Matt Swanko are each in the top 10 in the conference with 21 points.

"I think we did a lot of positive stuff," Berger said. "We got better as a team, playing stronger defensively. Cody had a good season in goal, a bunch of guys put up some nice numbers, and now it's time to come together as a team and hopefully do some damage in the playoffs."