NO. 5 CBA HANDS NO. 1 DON BOSCO 1ST SHUTOUT IN 2 YEARS

Don Bosco Prep, No. 1 in the NJ.com Top 20, had been the team to beat this season, winning each of its first three games by a combined score of 12-1, each win coming against a team ranked in the top seven of the Top 20. Christian Brothers has given Don Bosco trouble in the past, including handing the team its only loss of the year early last season, but few could have predicted an outcome such as the one that occurred on Wednesday night in Wall Township. Fifth-ranked Christian Brothers put together its best game of the year thus far, handing Don Bosco its first shutout in more than two calendar years and coming away with a 2-0 home win at Jersey Shore Arena. “Very happy with our performance,” said first-year head coach Andy Gojdycz on the team’s victory. “It was a great win to build on, and we have a lot more work to do this upcoming season.” Simon Fitzgerald scored what would be the game-winning goal in the first period off an assist from Zachary Wagnon, before freshman Leighton Biesiadecki, the team-leader in goals scored, added to his impressive start to his career with a second-period goal to double the lead. “He’s a smart hockey player but he’s also a hard worker,” said Gojdycz on his standout freshman. “With that combination, that kid is moving in the right direction.” Evan Brown and Ray Cartigiano assisted on Biesiadecki’s goal, as the two-goal advantage was all goalie John Donohoe needed. “He’s a rock star back there,” said Gojdycz on his sophomore goalie. “He’s got a great attitude, just an overall good kid who wants to win.” Donohoe saved each of the 25 shots he faced, securing the victory and shutting out Don Bosco for first time since Nov. 2017. “He always wants to be better and guys feed off that," added Gojdycz. The win is made all the more impressive considering it came following a 1-1-1 start, with the team losing 4-1 to No. 4 Gloucester Catholic on Monday in its previous game. “It’s a special group, honestly,” said Gojdycz on the team’s ability to recover from a one-sided loss. “I treat them like professionals. If you look at a pro team, if they have a bad game, they collect themselves and come out the next day. “They understand that hard work beats talent any day.” While the victory is certainly one to be proud of, Gojdycz and his players have their eyes set on more than just significant regular-season victories. “Myself and other alumni that help out the program, we were around when it was 3 straight Gordon Cups and 3 straight titles,” said Gojdycz, referencing the program’s spectacular level of success from 1994-96 with Gojdycz as a team captain. “We want these guys to feel what we felt.” If the team plays the rest of the season as well as they did in the win over Don Bosco, CBA just may have a chance to get back to that level of success it saw in the mid-90s.

NO. 5 CBA HANDS NO. 1 DON BOSCO 1ST SHUTOUT IN 2 YEARS

Photo Credit: Don Bosco Prep Athletics