High School Ice Hockey:
Lawson scores Late as Eastern upsets Moorestown

Friday, January 19, 2007

By Mike Costantino
SJSports Staff Writer

Torin Lawson scored with two seconds left in the game as Eastern upset Moorestown 5-4 in Tier 1 action played at Hollydell. The win was only the third for the Vikings, who have struggled the last few years after having been one of the top teams since the late 1990’s. Tonight was a glimpse of the past as great goaltending and hustle, a trait of Vikings team past, was the key to their upset over Moorestown. Eastern goalie Evan Cohen, despite goals against over six, played outstanding and was the main reason his team was in position to steal the game. After a scoreless first period, Cameron Dougherty put the Vikings up 1-0, Moorestown would score two goals in a span of eight seconds, both in a four-on-four situation, to take a 2-1 lead as Alec Miller and Ben Doganiero got the goals.

Dan Drazen would tie the score late in the second period as he scored the first of his two power play goals. Miller than gave Eastern a 3-2 lead early in the third period, but Colin Corley got the equalizer moments later. After Brian Kelly put Moorestown ahead with a power play goal midway through the period, it felt like another loss as the Vikings have averaged scoring less than three goals per game. But having the man advantage with just over five minutes remaining, Drazen used the defenseman as a screen and found the short side from the point and we were tied at 4-4. That set the stage for Lawson as he out-hustled the defense to a loose puck along the boards and broke in alone and his goal gave the Vikings something to cheer about in this tough season.