Who says lightning doesn't strike twice

On Sunday, May 1st, the Somers Point Street Hockey Freshman Lightning team captured their 2nd consecutive National title defeating  Egg Harbor Township Blue.

After starting out slow on Thursday night against EHT White, the Lightning prevailed 7-3 in a very chippy game. Next up was the team from Leominister. This game turned ugly from the drop of the first ball as the Mass team showed why they carried the Leominster name. Both teams hacked and slashed and bumped their way to a 1st period scoreless dual. The second period was even more intense as the physical play continued, as well as fan involvement, causing the refs to issue many taunting penalties. Through it all the Somers Point team managed to put 2 goals on the board only to see Leominster come back @ 1:47 left to notch their 1st goal and 3 seconds later score from the blue line after the face off to knot the tilt @ 2.

Into the 3rd period the teams went beating and bumping each other till a near battle on the court ensued. Meanwhile, off the court, tempers flared as well, creating a very tenuous situation for EHT officials.

As the 3rd period moved along the teams tried to gain an advantage on one another. With 2:37 left in the game, after fierce action in front of Leominster's net, Tom Stevens pushed a shot past a sprawled Leominster goalie to give Somers Point a 3-2 lead. The lead would hold up till what proved to be a bloody, name calling end of the game in which each team had to be escorted by officials off the court.

With the victory over Leominster, combined with the EHT Blue victory over Marlton by a score of 5-4, Somers Point had gained the upper hand by virtue of goals against to finish in 1st place for the reseeding round Saturday night. When the night ended Somers Point Lightning had drawn a bye and was slated to play Gloucester in the semi finals, by virtue of Gloucester's victory over the Somers Point Thunder, and EHT Blue waited to see who they would play on Sunday. Their potential opponent was to be either Marlton or Leominster. That game was marred by nasty attitudes and fights. When the game was finally stopped with under 2 minutes left to play Leominster had claimed victory and was heading to a Sunday semi final against the host team EHT Blue.

Sunday set up with Somers Point Lightning playing Gloucester and EHT Blue playing Leominster in an effort to get to the finals. In a move that surprised everyone, the powers that be threw Leominster out of the tournament, which gave the host team a bye to the finals. And so Somers Point had to play a semi final game @ 1 pm while the host team, EHT Blue, sat and rested for the finals @ 5 pm.

The semi final game between Somers Point and Gloucester turned out to be a laugher as the Lightning rolled over Gloucester, who featured 4 players from Bellmawr, 8-0. On to the finals against EHT Blue.

The teams in this game had played each other 5 different times for a Championship over the years and today's match would be no different. EHT jumped out to 1-0 lead in the 1st period on a give away by S P in there on zone resulting in a goal, and S P found themselves behind for the 1st time in the tournament.

The game remained 1-0 with EHT leading through the 2nd period and all EHT had to do was hold on for the title. Starting the 3rd period S P, having only 9 players were determined not to give the title to away. They quickly tied the game on a rebound shot by Joey Toland and shortly thereafter went ahead on a blast from the point by Larry Randour. 2-1 was the lead and Somers Point needed to hold on. Hold on they did as they closed out the game focused and with a 5-3 power play to claim their 2nd Championship in the Freshman division. 

The Team. Left to right-Ron Leopardi-Joe Toland-Kyle Pollack-John Rennick-Steve McBride-Ken Flanagan-Larry Randour-Tom Stevens-John Etling-Dan Pancoast. Not Pictured-Harry Faist and Charlie Jones