In a showdown against a tough Ridgewood team, the Randolph Rams faced the challenge of going up against a top-notch goalie renowned as one of the state’s finest. Last week, Jack Scali impressed with an astounding 42-save performance against Ramapo, leaving a lasting impression on the minds of fans. 

Adding to the excitement and suspense, Randolph was uncertain whether their leading scorer, Jase Zangara, and the dynamic Melly brothers would be able to compete due to injuries and illness. However, just moments before the puck dropped, the thrilling news reached us that all three would indeed be taking the ice.

Playoff hockey was about to begin in Randolph, New Jersey, and the arena was filled to near capacity. The crowd erupted with excitement as both teams took their positions at center ice. And so it began! The Rams soon discovered that the Ridgewood Maroons were a force to be reckoned with, playing a physical game.

The Maroons were great on the defensive end, and their star goalie, Scali, got in front of every shot on goal. A little over midway through the 1st period, the Maroons struck first. Jack Sherman found the back of the net off an assist by AJ LoSauro, giving Ridgewood an early 1-0 lead. 

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The Maroons extended their lead late in the period, with AJ LoSauro as the catalyst again. LoSauro found Senior Tyler Fitts, who put one past Randolph Goalie John Krynicki to make it a 2-0 lead for the Maroons heading into the first intermission. This was the first time the Rams had been down multiple goals all year, and the players’ frustration was evident as they skated into the locker room.

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The second period kicked off with both teams displaying their aggressive and physical style of hockey. Early on, there were players from both teams serving time in the penalty box; however, neither side was able to take advantage of the power play opportunities. 

The tide began to turn when Ridgewood repeatedly found themselves penalized more times throughout the period. This provided multiple power play opportunities for the Rams and put additional pressure on Scali as he faced an onslaught of shots.

LoSauro and Finn Doherty were sent to the box within 16 seconds of each other, giving Randolph a huge 5-on-3 advantage. Jacob Campbell won the faceoff back to Andrew George, and the Randolph Junior fired a missile past Scali—putting the Rams on the board 2-1. Scali had nine more shots on him after the goal but stood tall and preserved the Ridgewood lead heading into the break.

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During the intermission, Ridgefield’s head coach, Mike Lucchesi, decided to keep his team on the ice. It was clear that they needed some calming down after a challenging second period. The Rams emerged from their locker room with a newfound swagger, finally breaking the shutout. Their increased confidence immediately translated into control of the puck in the offensive zone, where they relentlessly fired shots at Scali. And so, the game took an exciting turn as the Rams showcased their determination and skill.

Another Ridgewood penalty led to a power play opportunity for Randolph. Seizing the moment, the Rams equalized with a deflection goal by Sophomore Daniel Sharkey, assisted by Andrew George and Vinny Crisafulli. The score was now tied at 2.

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Just 41 seconds later, Keegan Melly of Randolph found the back of the net, thanks to a pass from Zangara. The Rams completed their comeback, taking a 3-2 lead with less than 12 minutes left on the clock.

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To keep their hopes alive in the state playoffs, Ridgewood needed a swift response to regain momentum. And they got it when Doherty scored, leveling the game at 3-3 a few minutes later. The tension was high as the game entered the final minutes of regulation. 

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With less than a minute to go, LoSauro almost sent the Maroons to the finals but missed high on a shot that got past Krynicki. The Rams retook the lead when Sharkey fired a wrister past Scali, giving Randolph the lead within 44 seconds left. 

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The crowd erupted. The stands were shaking. It was an electric moment for Sharkey and one he and his teammates won’t soon forget. Zangara added an insurance goal a few seconds later, sending the Rams into the North Sectional Finals.