Old Bridge hockey team overcoming adversity BY WARREN RAPPLEYEA Staff Writer The Old Bridge High School ice hockey team own a 5-5-3 mark as it prepares to make its run for a New Jersey Interscholastic Ice Hockey League playoff berth. Coach Drew Campbell's undermanned Knights have played exceptionally well, especially when you consider that Old Bridge regularly employs about 10 players and shuffles junior varsity players in and out of its lineup. Unfortunately, while Old Bridge has been competitive on the ice, it's much harder to do so from the penalty box. Campbell said his team has been prone to taking undisciplined penalties that have cost his team several wins. For example, the Knights took a 2-0 lead into the first intermission at home on Monday against Toms River East. A succession of Old Bridge players went to the box in the second and third periods, enabling the visitors to score three power-play goals and head south on the Parkway with a victory in their pockets. "Our guys let their emotions get in the way of playing the game and tend to take selfish retaliation penalties," the coach said. "We can't afford to have guys sitting in the penalty box; we don't have a lot of depth as it is." PHOTOS BY CHRIS KELLY staff Above, Old Bridge goalie Travis O'Brien drops down to make a save during a recent game against Middletown North, while at left, T.J. Daya heads up the ice with puck. Still, the Knights remain in playoff contention and have six games remaining, including a home-and-home against Wall, before the Feb. 12 deadline. Teams must have a .500 or better record at the end of play that day to qualify. The stellar play of Travis O'Brien between the pipes has been a major reason for Old Bridge's five wins. The senior goalie has been spectacular at times, particularly in a 3-3 tie against Middletown North, which leads the Southern White Division and owns an 8-2-1 overall record. The Knights were outshot, 44-16, but came away with a point as O'Brien made 41 saves. In addition, Campbell has juggled his lineup, moving T.J. Daya to defense and putting Sean Goldin on the forward line. Daya has been solid defensively and has shown he can skate the puck out of the defensive zone when needed. Goldin, meanwhile, has responded with four goals and three assists. "Daya can skate and he's big so it's hard to knock him off the puck and Goldin has played very well up front," Campbell explained. Old Bridge has also received solid contributions from Kevin Connor, who has five goals and four assists; Mike Vineziale, who has been a force on the power play, with four goals, six assists; and sophomore Danny Cuccinello, with three goals, six assists. Matt Arnold has developed into a reliable stay-at-home defenseman and sophomore Joe Guinta has provided a pair of goals and three assists from the blue line. The Knights' wins have come against Cranford, Red Bank Regional (twice), Paul VI and Brick, the latter a 2-0 decision where Old Bridge stayed out of the sin bin to avenge an early-season loss. "Overall we've played great defensively in our own zone, we've played good positional hockey, and Travis [O'Brien] has kept us in every game," Campbell said. "Our biggest problem is that we're our own worst enemy. If we can stay out of the box, we'll win some games. And the guys know they have to win at least three." Of Old Bridge's six remaining games, four are at home. The Knights open the stretch tonight at Wall. They return home for a rematch on Jan. 25 and host Toms River North on Jan. 30. Middletown North visits Feb. 1 and Toms River East comes to call on Feb. 8. The Knights then visit Middletown South on Feb. 11 Notes... It hasn't been the best of seasons for the local area's ice hockey teams. At 5-5-3, Old Bridge is having one of the better seasons among the locals, although Christian Brothers Academy is putting together another strong season at 6-2-3 heading into next Wednesday's match-up with Delbarton. At 4-2-3 in Gordon Conference play, the Colts find themselves three points behind Delbarton (9-1, 7-1) heading into that match-up, and appears poised to make a run at the state title. Meanwhile, St. John Vianney is having an uncharacteristically tough year at 1-11. The Lancers, who fell to Delbarton, 10-3, in their last outing, have another tough game against Seton Hall Prep (6-2-2) looming on Tuesday. In Central Conference Red Division play, the St. Joseph of Metuchen boys are 4-5-1 overall, coming off a 8-3 win over Montclair. The Falcons took the ice again last night against Verona, and will face division-leading Ridge (11-0-1) next Friday. South Brunswick has struggled mightily this year, posting a 0-7 mark, but was looking to post their first victory last night against Watchung Hills (7-3-2), and will face Monroe tomorrow at the Princeton Sports Center. The Falcons are just 1-1 on the year so far, playing as an independent. Following tomorrow's game, the Falcons will take on another independent in its first year, Jackson Memorial (4-2), next Thursday.