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Sports

Lawrence Scores Two Goals in Boys Ice Hockey 4-2 Win

Summit gives rival Governor Livingston High School first loss of 2010.

After coming back to score three goals and force a tie against Arthur L. Johnson, the Summit High School hockey team handed Governor Livingston its first loss since Dec. 12th with a thrilling 4-2 victory on Saturday night at the Union Sports Arena.

Senior forward and captain Bobby Lawrence scored two goals, and senior goalie Brandon Jackson made 27 saves for the Hilltoppers (6-3-2). Meanwhile, the Highlanders (9-2-2) took too many penalties and could not find a way to stop Lawrence. Summit head coach Keith Nixon was extremely pleased with the effort his players put in to get the win.

"They finally understand what they're capable of," he said. "I've been telling them that they're good all season long, and it's just a matter of focusing on where you should be on the ice. Every single kid gave us everything they had and played to the best of their ability. We are a good team when we get that."

Governor Livingston's penalty problems began early in the first period when two players went to the box within 11 seconds of each other, creating a 5-on-3 power play for Summit. Although the Hilltoppers did not convert, they attacked the net and got several shots on goal.

With 4:34 left in the first Summit did score on another power play. Junior forward Timmy Yager got an unassisted goal to give the Hilltoppers a 1-0 lead.

In the final two minutes of the period, though, Highlander senior defenseman Andy Case tied the game with a slap shot that got past Jackson. The first ended in a 1-1 tie.

Lawrence scored his first goal of the night on a power play with an incredible shot from his knees to the right of Governor Livingston's netminder. Sophomore forward Jeff Wycoff took a shot that got deflected towards Lawrence, who subsequently knocked the rebound past the goalie. After the goal, Lawrence and the goalie got involved in some shoving, but it did not result in any penalties.

"Bobby is a full throttle kid," Nixon said of his intensity. "He doesn't coast out there. He goes 100 miles an hour and most of the time good things happen. You live by the sword and you die by the sword."

Lawrence got his second goal with 7:50 remaining in the period on a breakaway. He grabbed control of the puck near center ice and sprinted into the Highlanders' defensive zone all alone. Going one-on-one against the goalie, Lawrence deked one way and then flipped the puck into the other side of the net.

"He took this team on his back," Nixon said. "If anybody gave less than 110 percent, they'd be letting that kid down. His leadership was immense. He refused to lose this hockey game."

Down 3-1, Governor Livingston got a power play goal from Case. It was another slap shot, this time near the boards to Jackson's left.

In the final minute of the period, Wycoff gave Summit a commanding 4-2 lead with an unassisted goal. What happened afterwards, however, had a bigger impact on the Highlanders.

With the play already dead, senior defenseman Ted Case got a two minute minor and 10 minute game misconduct penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct. As a result, Governor Livingston had to play without him until the last three minutes of the game.

Penalties continued to mount for both squads in the third, but Jackson dominated the period. He  shut out the Highlanders, and made 10 saves. At one point he made consecutive saves despite not seeing the second shot as he was still recovering from the first one.

"Jackson was awesome in goal," Nixon said. He was seeing the puck well all night and he covered everything he could. He was in position, even on shots he couldn't see."

As the game ended, Summit's bench cleared and as the team celebrated its victory by storming Jackson on the ice.

"I was proud of the way we fought through the game," Nixon said. "The effort was there, and we made good decisions. I can't say enough about the way our kids played tonight," Nixon said.

Summit will look to continue its strong play against Cranford on Jan. 19 at 6 p.m. at Warinanco Park.

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