By Rich Chrampanis
WALL TOWNSHIP – Jersey Shore Arena hosted the Shore Conference’s two cup tournament finals Feb. 16. Saint John Vianney blanked Middletown North 3-0 in the Handchen Cup final, avenging a loss to the Lions in last year’s match-up. Scoreless after two periods, the Lancers broke through thanks to a Dom Mazzella goal 1:54 into the final period. Nick Kasich and Blake Fischer added goals to give the Lancers their first Shore Cup since 2019.
In the Dowd Cup final, Rumson-Fair Haven overcame a 2-0 deficit with three straight goals to top Middletown South 3-2. Brandon Gronau and Justin Ferlanti gave the Eagles a 2-0 lead at the end of one. Nik Doumas got RFH within a goal thanks to a second period goal. Andrew Croddick’s power play tally tied the game 2-2 with 9:54 to go and Otto Gross was the hero as he found the net with 1:52 left in regulation. For coach Eric Zullo’s team it’s back-to-back Dowd Cup championships.
The article originally appeared in the February 23 – March 1, 2023 print edition of The Two River Times.
