Northern Highlands hockey team generates goals in bunches by Greg Tartaglia of The Record

LITTLE FALLS – Even with one of its top scorers out of action, the Northern Highlands offense kept generating goals.

Behind a hat trick and two assists from center Mark Cinotti, plus four points from winger Cormac Cindrich, the Highlanders handled Clifton 9-4 in a Big North crossover hockey game at Floyd Hall Arena.

Northern Highlands (3-1-1) played without junior forward James Cerepak due to a knee injury but still managed its highest scoring output in the past two seasons. Senior Joe Konvit, who has shifted between defense and forward, added a pair of goals during a 4-0 first period as part of a three-point night.

“That says a lot about the team and what we’re going to be about this year,” junior co-captain Sean Vlasich said. “It was a really good all-around game, and the scoring seemed to come from across the board.”

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Besides expecting Cerepak back from injury, the Highlanders also are awaiting the return of forward Jin Lee. The senior has been fulfilling prior commitments to his club team in the early part of the season.

“Plus Henry Riccitelli played with an injured wrist, and Jack Sparago played with a shoulder injury,” Northern Highlands coach Jason Beswick pointed out. “We’re hoping to have everybody back and healthy for the New Year.”

The Highlanders’ first two games of 2018 are against Big North Freedom rival St. Joseph on Jan. 3 and at Non-Public state champ Delbarton a day later. They are scheduled to see Clifton (2-4-1) again on Jan. 6.

The first meeting featured a wild start to the second period, as the teams traded five goals in a 4:18 span. Cinotti answered the first Mustang goal in 31 seconds and Anthony Akiki answered the second in just 16 seconds.

Karol Vida, Mike Porter and Nick Petriella tallied in the second period for Clifton, while Jason Finan capped his three-point night with a shorthanded goal in the third. With a young defense in front of him, first-year starter Jaden Fortuna made 32 saves in goal for the home team.

Vlasich, Tom Sullivan and Cindrich closed the scoring for Northern Highlands. Vlasich scored on the power play as the visitors finished 2-for-5 with the man advantage.

Sophomore Ian Fusco played the majority of the game in net for the Highlanders and stopped 11-of-12 shots. More goaltending depth is on the way, too, as Beswick anticipates junior John Werber joining the rotation soon.

PASSAIC VALLEY/CEDAR GROVE 3, PARAMUS/LYNDHURST/HACKENSACK 1: In the second game of the Floyd doubleheader, the Hornets (3-1-2) ran their unbeaten streak to four games.

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Since a Nov. 26 loss to Northern Valley, Passaic Valley/Cedar Grove has alternated ties and wins. They began the week with a 2-2 draw at then-unbeaten Westfield, in which sophomore goalie Nick DiNardo made 20 saves.

Senior Noah Vazquez turned aside 27-of-28 Spartan shots on Friday, making an early 2-0 lead stand up.

“It’s nice that we’ve got two goalies going right now,” Hornets coach Mike Sheehan said.

Nick LoPresti and Joe Kubu both scored on the power play in the first period, and Dan Lapinski tallied on a breakaway in the second. Alex LoPresti added two assists.

Paramus/Lyndhurst/Hackensack (1-2-2) broke the shutout early in the third, when Sean Leonard set up Zachary Matesic’s sixth goal of the season. Jake Moran made 35 saves.