Seton Hall 3, Delbarton 2 (2003)

Seton Hall Prep 3, Delbarton 2 (Overtime)
03/14/2003 - Parochial Semifinal

Well, you didn't really expect this countdown to go much further without any hint of a Seton Hall Prep-Delbarton matchup, did you?

This game was truly a classic. The fact it was held at South Mountain Arena before 2,200 fanatics made it that more energetic. Delbarton, which was the defending state champion, entered the game No. 2 in The Top 20 and Seton Hall came in at No. 3. The contest offered just about everything you would expect in a monumental showdown between two of the state's elite.

In fact, Delby defenseman Ned Crotty highlighted a furiously played opening period with a bone-rattling check on forward Dustin Kennedy. The same Dustin Kennedy who would score the game-winner with 4:51 left in overtime, off a chest-high deflection at the right post, to give the Pirates the victory.

The puck was just below shoulder height as Kennedy one-timed his ninth goal of the season, which originated off a point-blast by defender Adam Haczyk.

Delbarton rallied from a two-goal deficit with a pair of late third-period goals. Dale Reinhardt's second of the game with just 38 seconds left in the frame, on a backhand in the right circle, would send the game into overtime.

Both goalies came up HUGE! Delbarton's Tyler Deieso made 30 saves and The Hall's Kevin Bendel stopped 31 shots, including 12 in overtime. Bendel turned in a highlight-reel OT session, including a sliding stab with his glove off Tim Campbell, who appeared to have an entire open net to shoot at before Bendel's move from left to right.

Senior Nick Silvestri and sophomore Bryan Haczyk each scored for Seton Hall. One of the more memorable chants by the Seton Hall Prep student body this season was for third-line forward Mike Maglio, who played a key role each and every game, but wasn't the biggest scoring threat out on the ice. ``Mag-li-O, Mag-li-O, Mag-li-OOO,'' went the chant. All the Prep players admitted to getting emotionally charged after hearing the cheer.

One memory of mine that didn't make the paper included the gutsy goalie from Delbarton, Tyler Deieso, standing tall and answering each question thrown his way after the disappointment of losing. Deieso showed a great deal of class and even had his wits about him to confess, ``I tried to flick the puck into the corner but Dustin was right there and made an incredible play (on the OT goal).''

QUOTABLES: ``There were a lot of scrambles in front of our net in overtime and we had some turnovers. I can't describe how this victory feels. Out of everyone celebrating on the ice, I think I was happiest,'' Seton Hall goalie Kevin Bendel.

``We went from the ultimate high (after tying the game late in the third) to the ultimate low (losing in OT),'' Delbarton forward Dale Reinhardt.