High School Ice Hockey: Ruiz and Altamuro tie up Cherokee Monday, November 7, 2005 By Mike Costantino SJSports Staff Writer Tom Ruiz scored two goals and Joe Altamuro stopped 25 shots as Williamstown rallied from a two-goal deficit to tie Cherokee 3-3 in an intense and hard hitting game played in Voorhees. In a game that featured the only two teams without a loss and a possible preview of the championship series, Williamstown proved that they are a team to be reckoned with. After Justin Kinniry and Scott Weiner put Cherokee ahead 2-0 just five minutes into the game, Williamstown could have panicked and start taking silly penalties, but they kept there heads and given a two-man-advantage in the closing seconds of the period, Ruiz banged home an important goal to bring his team to within 2-1. With Williamstown now back in the game and momentum now on their side, Ruiz tied the game at 2-2 scoring a short-handed goal just over two minutes into the second period. Altamuro made several big saves over the next few minutes to keep Williamstown even. Jake Davis put Cherokee up 3-2 scoring a power play goal late in the period and Cherokee took the lead into the third period and looked like they might escape with the win. However Williamstown converted on the man advantage midway through the period as freshman Tim Larkin found the net to tie the game at 3-3. Altamuro was able to withstand Cherokee’s last burst and Williamstown should build off this effort. Notes: Nice crowd at Voorhees, and strong support from the Williamstown faithful. Round two of this heavyweight bout takes place next year, January 6th at Hollydell. Photos by Art Redd