Late Goal Helps Mustangs Salvage Tie

SOMERSET -- Despite playing arguably their worst period of the season, the Mustangs weren't quite done by mid-game Friday.

Taking four of their five penalties and allowing two unanswered goals to surrender their 2-1 lead, the Brick Memorial Mustangs (8-8-4, no. 54) were on their heels.

After pulling goalie Kevin Talty for a two-man advantage, along with a power play, Justin Apgar put home Jayson Franceschini's point-shot with 21.8 seconds remaining to tie the game at the three.

The goal would be Apgar's second of the game as the Mustangs tied Hunterdon Central 3-3 Friday night at Protechockey Ponds in Somerset.

"We really just wanted to throw pucks to the net," Franceschini said. "We were able to get something on it."

The Red Devils (1-18-2, no. 118) took the lead, scoring two goals within 31 seconds of each other in the third period, but were unable to connect on a 5-on-3 advantage for two full minutes late in the third.

Franceschini opened the scoring five minutes into the game, when Colin Trevors found the captain camped out in the slot. The blast gave the Mustangs a 1-0 lead.

Later in the second, with the game tied at one, Apgar punched home a rebound off a Nick Spinelli shot to give Memorial the 2-1 advantage that would last to the middle of the third period.

Hunterdon Central went scoreless on all five on the power play chances, while the 'Stangs went two-for-four on their man-advantage periods.

Talty made 21 saves for the Mustangs and was called for a delay of game for moving the puck during a stoppage in the third period. Franceschini stood out all night long, scoring a goal and having a major assist on the game-tying goal.

"I'm just trying to play the game and my position," Franceschini said.

Still, the captain had no problem discussing the team's poor play of the day.

"We all played really bad," he said. "We were lucky to be able to come away with this big tie."

After starting the season 4-8, Memorial has gone 4-0-4 since Jan. 18 and needs to remain at .500 to qualify for the state playoffs.

"We're expected to make states," Franceschini said. "It's what we're supposed to do."

On Sunday, Feb. 13, the Mustangs will look to qualify for states officially when they host Jackson Memorial at Ocean Ice Palace at 5:20 p.m. If they can't manage a win there, they will need to beat CBA Monday afternoon.

"We need to beat Jackson now," Franceschini said. "But we want to beat CBA, too. We think we can do it."