By, Logan Winslow

Morristown, NJ – Just under a month ago on December 18th, the Randolph Rams and Morristown-Beard Crimson faced off in their first of two regular season clashes at Mennen Arena in the 2024-25 season. 

While Randolph led 3-1 after 20 minutes, Morristown-Beard outscored them 3-1 in the second and third period and would prevail 5-4 in overtime with a goal from junior forward John Gonella with 15 seconds remaining in the extra frame. 

The Rams, ranked No. 14 in Big State Sports’ latest Top 20, came into the game 5-1 in Mennen division play, their only loss being the aforementioned one to the Crimson. 

Coming in hot as the No. 4 ranked team in the Garden State, the Crimson looked to stay undefeated in division play, carrying a 6-0-1 record in division contests.

After ending the first up 1-0, the Rams flipped the narrative from the last matchup with the Crimson and exploded offensively with a four-goal second period.

The scoring frenzy was ignited around the 11-minute mark by two goals in 20 seconds, courtesy of junior Shane Melly getting his second of the game and senior Jase Zangara going five-hole on Crimson sophomore goaltender Mason Hriczov. The Crimson puck stopper had 26 saves in the contest.

If one Melly could score, why not the other?

In the final minutes of the frame while on a five-minute power-play due to a major penalty, The Rams would cash in twice within 30 seconds again.

A rebound goal on the doorstep by junior Keegan Melly followed by his brother Shane clinching a hat-trick with his third goal of the game gave Randolph a suffocating 5-1 lead going into the final period of regulation. The hat trick was Shane Melly’s second in as many games.

In the third, the Rams would find themselves in penalty trouble of their own, and the Crimson’s leading goal scorer was all for it.

It took just 20 seconds for Gonnella to net his 11th and 12th of the season, however the Rams would hold onto their lead to secure the win, backstopped by freshman netminder Quincy Mitchell who had 18 saves.

Randolph (9-3) overtakes Morristown-Beard for the top spot in the Mennen division. They will head to Skylands Ice World on Friday to take on the high-flying offense of No. 19 KJS United. Sophomore Evan Redman picked up a goal and two assists for Morristown-Beard (9-2-1) who have a week to regroup until their next game against the Bernards-Somerville-Middlesex tri-op on January 22nd.

Photo Credit: Logan Winslow