Mustangs Down Jaguars, Secure Playoff Berth

The Mustangs' season has been a roller coaster ride, for sure. There have been the highs, lows and everything in between.

Still, with Memorial's (9-8-4, no. 55) playoff hopes at stake, the 'Stangs did what they needed to do.

Jayson Franceschini had a three point night and goalie Kevin Talty turned away 15 of 16 shots as the Mustangs came out ahead of Jackson Memorial (9-13, no. 94), Sunday night at Ocean Ice Palace in Brick.

The win put the Mustangs over .500 with just one game remaining, ensuring themselves a state playoff berth.

"It's great," Franceschini, the team captain, said of the qualification. "Especially with our start at the beginning [of the game], we came up and we knew we were going to. It's a good feeling."

Franceschini opened the offense for Memorial early in the first period, scoring short-handed. The captain took the puck in his own zone and finished off the goal, sliding on his stomach and flipping the puck top-shelf.

"There was a puck in the corner and I saw a lane," Franceschini said. "Coming down, they gave me the whole back-hand side, so I pulled it back, got tripped and it went in."

Minutes later, this time with the man-advantage, Franceschini found Colin Trevors who ripped a shot for the power play goal, boosting the Mustangs to a 2-0 lead.

Trevors' play of late has been one of the best of the team, as he has played a major part in Brick Memorial's rally.

Justin Apgar would add a goal of his own in the third period and would assist on Kyle Huhn's goal, also in the third. The goal would be the icing on the cake, as Brick Memorial cruised to the 4-1 win.

Spinelli, a force for the 'Stangs all season, added two assists on the night. Talty was solid in net, and the defense in front of him was strong as well, allowing just 16 total shots and zero in the third period.

"Our defense has to be strong like that," Franceschini said. "Especially in the playoffs, with our record, we're going to face some good teams so our defense definitely has to be good."

Brick Memorial will finish its regular season on Monday, Feb. 14 as they host Christian Brothers Academy at 4 p.m. at Ocean Ice Palace.

"Oh yeah," Franceschini said when asked if they could beat them. "We're definitely going to give them a run for their money."