December 27, 2011

Stewart Lemus scored two goals, including the game-winner in overtime for Bayonne. (Photo: Jason Bernstein)

Edison at Bayonne Hockey Photo Gallery

BAYONNE – Stewart Lemus would be the first to admit that his final shot in overtime wasn't one of his best ones on the night. When it hits the back of the net though, the lack of beauty of the goal is irrelevant.

Lemus' goal under the left arm of Edison's Shane Bobik left everyone at the Korpi Ice Rink, including himself, in stunned disbelief as it sent the Bees to a 4-3 overtime win in the opening round of the Bayonne Holiday Tournament.

"I came along the hash mark and I just put on net," Lemus said. "That's what the coaches were saying, throw everything on net. Somehow it just sneaked in.

"With all the shots that I had all game and just coming in and throwing everything on net it did surprise me because I just kind of got it as fast as I could. It was a little bit of a flubber. I guess the lucky ones go in."

"I didn't even see it go in," said Tim Coletta, who assisted on the goal. "I just saw Stewey put his hands up and I guess it went in."

While Lemus' tally elicited no emotion from his stunned teammates, Coletta had sent the Bees (2-4-1) into a frenzy just a few minutes earlier when he cut in front of the net for the game-tying goal with just 48.8 seconds left in regulation off a feed from Lemus.

"I was skating and I saw the defenseman and (the puck) went right in between his legs," said Coletta, a junior captain. "I saw the opening so I just went around (from the outside) and tried to do my best."

"A lot of our kids were trying to go right up the middle and they were getting pinched," Bayonne head coach Harvey Boehm said. "By going outside and then coming in I think draws them away and gives us the lane to shoot."

Coletta and Lemus each had two goals and an assist in the win.

Lemus put Bayonne in front 2-1 less than five minutes into the third when he streaked down the left side for an unassisted goal. The Bees' lead would be short-lived as Jon Stalensy tied the game for Edison (2-5) less than four minutes later with a power play goal.

With 3:24 left as Ray Van Winkle stole the puck near center ice, deked his way past a defender and roofed a goal on a sparkling play to give the Eagles a 3-2 lead.

"We're not good from behind at all," Boehm said. "We're a trap team, we trap teams because we just don't have the skaters so we just try to play a system. If we're behind, we're in trouble."

Van Winkle had two goals and an assist for Edison and Bobiak made 32 saves in defeat. Edison will face Hudson Catholic in the consolation game today at 3 p.m.

Chris Kennedy made 17 saves for Bayonne, which now advances to face Woodbridge today at 5 p.m. in the championship game

"Since I've been a freshman we've won this tournament every year. We didn't want to go out on a whimper and just play in the consolation game tomorrow," said Lemus, a senior captain. "We really wanted to step it up big and try to make it to the big game tomorrow."

Bayonne's Tim Coletta tied the game at 3-3 with 48.8 seconds left in regulation. (Photo: Jason Bernstein)

Edison at Bayonne Hockey Photo Gallery