Randolph comes from behind for state hockey title

NEWARK – The Randolph hockey team started fast and finished even faster in its NJSIAA Public A final against Howell on Monday.

The Rams recorded the first 14 shots of the game but still had to find a way to overcome a one-goal deficit in the third period before earning a 2-1 victory over the Rebels and their fourth Public A title in the past five years.

Senior Matt Bruno played the hero, breaking a 1-1 deadlock at 12:20 of the third period after fellow senior Matt Koop had tied it six minutes earlier as the Rams again found a way to earn a state championship, their eighth in 13 years.

"When I took that penalty I was really upset with myself," said Bruno, who had come out of the penalty box moments earlier. "I wasn't really worried because our defense was playing well and blocking shots. Once I got out of the box I had a little more incentive, I had to prove something."

Howell goaltender Bobby Dovenero kept the Rams off the scoreboard with his solid play between the pipes as Randolph outshot the first-time finalists 21-2 over the opening 20 minutes but failed to grab the lead. The Rams had the lone power-play of the period but also failed to capitalize.

Randolph continued to carry the play through the first half of the second period until Howell sniper Kyle Hallbauer nearly gave his team the led when he hit to post with seven minutes remaining. The Rams then had successive power-play opportunities with another chance to take the lead but it was Hallbauer and the Rebels who cashed in with a shorthanded tally at 12:29 to break the scoreless deadlock.

Hallbauer's 42nd goal of season came when he took a pass from Brad Becker and fired a shot from just below the faceoff dot past Rams' goaltender Garrett Stenberg (17 saves). The second period ended with Randolph holding a 27-7 shot advantage but trailing entering the final 20 minutes.

Howell had an opportunity to extend its lead on the power play early in the third but Stenberg came up with a couple of huge saves to keep it a one-goal deficit.

"Our defense did a great job of locking down their first line," Stenberg said.

The Rams finally broke through on Dovenero at 6:15 when Koop chipped a rebound shot over the fallen goaltender, who had stopped a blast by Matt Redgate. Bruno also assisted on the tying goal.

"I put Koop on the ice just because I had a feeling," Randolph head coach Rich McLaughlin said.

Bruno then sat in the penalty box while his teammates killed off a second Rebels' power play moments before the senior gave his team its first lead with just 2:40 left when he used his long reach to score on a wraparound.