December 15, 2009
Bretzger makes case for starting spot
Freshman Nick Bretzger made 23 saves for the Marauders in his varsity debut.
Click Here for more photos from St. Peter's Prep at Seton Hall Prep.
By Jason Bernstein
Editorial Director
WEST ORANGE – The Marauders are still in search of their first win of the season, but they may have found their new goalie.
Nick Bretzger was a bright spot for St. Peter’s Prep, making 23 saves save in relief during his varsity debut in a 5-1 loss to Seton Hall Prep yesterday at Richard J. Codey Arena yesterday.
“I think (Bretzger’s) an outstanding talent,” Seton Hall Prep coach Peter Herms said. “He moves extremely well. He’s small now, but he’s only a freshman. I’m sure as time goes on he’s going to be one of the better goaltenders in the state, if not one of the best by the time he graduates.”
Trailing 3-0 after the opening period, St. Peter’s Prep (0-3) head coach Joe Maione turned to the 5-foot-3 freshman to take over between the pipes. Bretzger admitted he was “a little nervous” when he came in, but had to quickly ease those fears against a Pirate team that had unleashed 18 shots in the opening period.
It didn’t take long for Bretzger to face the Seton Hall Prep (5-1) firing line as he stopped a Tom Croonquist shot early in the period. Croonquist may have given Bretzger his first career save, but the Pirates’ Matt Weis was responsible for a more regrettable first in the young goalie’s career when he buried a one-timer to make it 4-0.
“Once I made that first save, I felt good,” Bretzger said. “It was very relaxing (after that first period). I felt comfortable and I felt good for my team.”
After making 11 saves in the second, a calmer Bretzger thrived in the third. He stopped a shot from the Pirates’ Chris Fersini from right in front of the net early in the period. Fersini was robbed again later when Bretzger turned him away on a breakaway.
Bretzger made 12 more saves in the final period. While he was beat twice in defeat, Bretzger turned heads in his debut.
“He’s technically sound,” Maione said. “He’s very quick. I know he’s small and that’s what everyone’s going to look at, but he’s very quick.”
While Maione was impressed with Bretzger’s debut, the coach wasn’t ready to decide on a full-time goalie yet. Bretzger is one of three young netminders seeking to take over the throne between the pipes which was vacated by the graduation of Brian Gaven.
“It’s still too early to tell,” Maione said. “We’re going in a bit of a rotation right now and we’ll see who grabs it.”
“It’s not about height,” Bretzger added. “It’s about your heart, your passion and how you play.”
Joining Bretzger in the three-for-all are sophomores Bobby Miskura and Nathan Leo. Miskura in his second career start in net for the Marauders and made 15 saves before departing after the first period.
“Nick is a little quicker down low and Bobby I think has a better glove,” Maione said. “(Miskura’s) a baseball player so he has a nice glove. We liked the way Nick moved in the two periods he played.”
Miskura and St. Peter’s Prep were done in by a blistering start from Seton Hall Prep. Goals from Armen Gapikia, Croonquist and Louis Dell’Ermo within the first four minutes quickly put the game out of reach for the Marauders.
St. Peter’s Prep broke through late in the third period when forward Nick Bilchuk scored with Will Simson and Alex Gleason picking up the assists. Maione was pleased with his team’s third period performance as they out-shot the Pirates 14-13 in the 15 minute session. For the game, Seton Hall held a 43-26 advantage in shots.
The Marauders look to get their first win of the season on Friday when they face Bishop Eustace. Seton Hall’s next game is on Saturday against Christian Brothers Academy.
Alex Gleason had an assist for St. Peter's Prep in the loss.
1st |
2nd |
3rd |
Total |
|
| St. Peter's Prep (0-3) | 0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
| Seton Hall Prep (5-1) | 3 |
1 |
1 |
5 |
First Period |
||||
| SHP: Armen Gapikia (Steven Aloia, Devon Duarte) 0:26 | ||||
| SHP: Vincent Croonquist (Duarte) 3:13, pp | ||||
| SHP: Louis Dell' Ermo (Matt Weis, David Mosier) 3:51 | ||||
Second Period |
||||
| SHP: Weis (Dell' Ermo, Brandon Harris) 5:28 | ||||
Third Period |
||||
| SHP: Aloia (unassisted) 1:07 | ||||
| SPP: Nick Bilchuk (Will Simson, Alex Gleason) 12:22 | ||||
| Shots: St. Peter's Prep 26; Seton Hall Prep: 43. | ||||
Goalies: SPP: Bobby Miskura (15 saves), Nick Bretzger (23 saves); SHP: Jimmy Harrison (25 saves); . |
||||