Delbarton 1, Brick 0 (2002)

Delbarton 1, Brick 0
03/21/2002 - Overall Final

It was a prelude of things to come for one of the more established high school athletes this decade -- Ned Crotty.

Crotty, the first-year defender for Delbarton, scored his eighth goal of the season off a blistering shot from the left point with 6:53 left in the third to give his team its first overall state title since 1992. Of course, the victory didn't come without a little controversy. The triumph also enabled Delbarton to notch its first  Star-Ledger Top 20 Trophy in school history.

Just 1:23 after Crotty's goal, a shot by Brick forward Dan Dornacker, that appeared to cross the goal line on video replay, was declared no goal following a short conference by officials Pete Lanigan and Stan Gutt. The Brick fans, of course, thought the video replay on the center-ice scoreboard contradicted that decision. NJSIAA rules, however, do not allow officials to look at replays. It was as memorable a finish as any other and was witnessed by 4,023 at Continental Airlines Arena. Delbarton entered the game ranked No. 1 in the poll and Brick was ranked third.

Crotty, in fact, was the player credited with getting behind Delbarton goalie Tyler Deieso and sweeping the puck out of harms way. ``I didn't want to look up at the video replay because I was afraid of what I might see,'' Crotty said after the game.

Brick power-forward Danny Acropolis had another view:

``If they had instant replay, we would still be playing,'' he said. ``The refs might have trouble sleeping tonight.''

The game was as physical a contest as you will ever see. Chas McLaughlin had a noticeable limp at the end of the game when he went down to block a shot late in the game and forward Gray Eklund, a 6-3, 190-pound senior, wore bandages just above and beneath his nose after taking an open-ice check from Brick's Acropolis. According to Eklund, Brick was the most physical team Delbarton had played all season.

Delbarton's Deieso needed 14 big saves -- many in the game's final minute -- to notch his ninth shutout of the season. Brick goalie Dennis Cofer finished with 28 stops, including many phenomenal blocks in the opening two periods.

As for Crotty, well, he would play in 118 straight games over four seasons at Delbarton, earn Star-Ledger All State honors twice and earn continual praise from every opposing coach. Crotty was a pleasure to cover throughout his tenure at the Morris County school. He always had something positive to say and was extremely humble.

QUOTABLES:
``Ned Crotty epitomized what our team was all about this season. I'm extremely happy for him. Not just because he was my partner all season, but because he worked his tail off. Every player on this team battled to the end,'' Delbarton defenseman Chas McLaughlin.

``It's unfortunate that the game had to end that way, but controversy or not, it's a tough game to lose. Both teams played hard, but they got the break,'' Brick coach Bob Auriemma.