BALANCED SCORING HELPS STOCKTON DOWN CENTENARY

Tim Wolcott

Boxscore

Richard Stockton (2-0) showed their balance as seven different Ospreys scored goals and Stockton held on to defeat Centenary College (1-1) 7-6. Stockton survived to win after surrendering two late Cyclones' goals.

Stockton opened the scoring as Matt Bologno (Glen Gardner/Voorhees) hit the net for an early 1-0 lead with an assist from Drew Wright (Wallingford, PA/Strath Haven).

Brian Santoleri (Berwyn, PA/Archbishop Carroll) followed that with another tally from Robert Krais (Jackson/Jackson Memorial) to make it a two-goal margin.

Cameron Gunn scored the first of his three goals on the day for Centenary to cut the lead to 2-1 after one period. Nick Bologno (Glen Gardner/North Hunterdon) made it 3-1 on assist from brother Matt Bologno before Jeff Prudente cut the Stockton lead to 3-2.

Wright and Wade Veselka (Chesterfield/Northern Burlington) scored goals for Stockton in the third period, sandwiched around a Connor Nolan tally for the Cyclones to stretch the Ospreys lead to 5-3 after three quarters. Santoleri and Nick Bologno had helpers on the goals while Steve Orsini assisted on Nolan’s goal.

The Ospreys looked to have the game well in hand when Dave Soule (Kinnelon/Kinnelon) and Vinny Gencarelli (Rockaway/Morris Hills) scored unassisted tallies to offset another Nolan goal, giving the Ospreys a 7-4 lead with just 5:39 remaining, but the Cyclones made things interesting. Gunn scored twice, including one with 38 seconds remaining that brought Centenary within 7-6, but Stockton held on for the victory.

Santoleri, Wright, Nick Bologno and Matt Bologno each finished with a goal and an assist for the Ospreys. Nolan led all players with five points on two goals and three assists for Centenary.

Stockton goalie Tim Wolcott (Toms River/Toms River North) kicked out 12 shots, many from point blank range, in earning his second victory of the season. Kyle McVay made nine saves for the Cougars before giving way to an injury. Grant Nice stopped four shots in relief.