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High School Ice Hockey:
Ruiz And Haines Rally Williamstown To An Upset Of Clearview

Friday, January 9, 2004

By Mike Costantino
SJSports Staff Writer

Tom Ruiz scored two goals late in the third period as Williamstown rallied from a 2-0 deficit and defeated Clearview 3-2 in Tier 1 action played at Hollydell. Freshman goalie Joshua Haines was outstanding in nets and it was his play in the first 2 periods that enabled Williamstown to stay in the game. Mike Sullivan scored the only goal of the first period as he skated around the net and came out in front after Haines made the initial save. Sullivan banged home his own rebound. Williamstown started slow offensively and did not register its first shot on goal until midway through the period. Haines later robbed Jim Sprinkle and Sullivan again on close-in opportunities. Early in the second period, Sprinkle broke down the right side and with Sullivan trailing, dropped a pass that Sullivan one-timed to Matt Gagne along the side of the net and he re-directed the pass into the goal for a 2-0 lead.

Four minutes later Williamstown broke through as Dennis Cunnard deflected a shot from the point by defenseman Joshua Haynes and the lead was cut to 2-1. Haines made several key saves robbing Steve Short and forcing Nick DeJesus to shoot wide on a breakaway and the game headed into the third period with a one-goal game and surprisingly, no called penalties. Then with less than four minutes remaining, we had our first two penalties, both on Clearview and Williamstown had an excellent opportunity and they capitalized. After a good keep at the point by Craig Sargent, Ruiz ripped a shot from the slot to tie the game at 2-2. You could sense the Williamstown players believed that they could now win against a top team and their hustle was the key to the winning goal. Mark Cunnard dug the puck out along the boards and fed the puck to the point, Haines ripped a rising shot that Ruiz deflected with his stick just below his shoulder and Williamstown led 3-2 with forty-eight seconds left. With Clearview pulling the goalie, Haines made one more big save on Jim Fritz from in close to preserve the win.

Photos by Art Redd

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