Bulldogs Advance to Championship Game

By Garrett Downing

Thursday, February 28, 2008

Earlier in the season, Stone Bridge lost to Langley 4-3 for its first regular season defeat in 29 games. For a team used to success, the loss did not sit well.

But the Bulldogs won the game that mattered most, beating Langley 4-2 Wednesday night at the Skatequest of Reston to return to the Northern Virginia Scholastic Hockey League championship for the third consecutive season.

“It was not trying to get redemption,” Stone Bridge head coach John Lynch said. “It was trying to play that last game of the season.”

The Bulldogs used a late third period goal from senior Sean Hollern to take the lead with 1:50 remaining. After a mostly conservative third period from both teams, Stone Bridge pushed the puck into Langley’s zone, then Hollern banged home the go-ahead goal through the legs of Jay Williams.

Edward Cutler then tapped in an empty net goal in the last minute to give Stone Bridge the 4-2 victory.

Stone Bridge, which has lost three games in the past three seasons, views the early loss to Langley as a turning point in the season.

“Langley really helped us at the beginning of the year when they beat us,” Stone Bridge head coach John Lynch said. “That really forced us to bear down.”

Stone Bridge was on the offensive attack for most of the night, outshooting Langley 32-18. The score could have been more one-sided, but five of the Bulldogs' shots deflected off the post and Langley goalie Jay Williams made several tough saves.

“Their goalie is a great goalie,” Lynch said. “He is going to be a star.”

Wednesday’s game had a much different tone than the Bulldogs' 12-2 victory Monday over Chantilly. The two teams each held a share of the lead, and the game came down to the final minutes.

While Stone Bridge kept up the offensive pressure for most of the game, Langley took advantage of its scoring opportunities. Langley scored the game’s first goal on a power play, and then tied it at two on a quick wrist shot by Ken Bickel in the second period.

The two teams then traded shots for most of the third period, without either team taking many chances -- until Hollern’s goal gave Stone Bridge the lead.

All season long the Bulldogs have used a variety of scorers, and Wednesday was no different. Four players tallied goals for Stone Bridge.

“With us it is a plethora of different guys who are scoring,” Lynch said.

William Bock scored the first goal for Stone Bridge, which came on a power play in the second period and tied the game at one. Richard Davidson then scored another power play goal in the second period on a pass from Kyle Broadbent to take a 2-1 lead.

Langley tied the game before the Bulldogs pulled away at the end.

“We fought really hard and I am proud of them,” Lynch said.

Stone Bridge will play Woodbridge, which beat O’Connell 3-1 in the other semi-final game, Friday night in Arlington for the NVSHL championship. While the Bulldogs have made the championship three years in a row, they have not won it since the 2002-2003 season.

“We have had a lot of success at Stone Bridge,” Lynch said. “Over the last three years we have lost three games. That is an incredible feat, but if you don’t win that last game…”

Extra Points

By Paul Tenorio and Matt Brooks