03/09 - 12:00 AM Boys Ice Hockey Final Christian Brothers 4 Delbarton 3 Complete Box Score »

NEWARK -- Down three late in the second period to the No. 1 team in the state?

No problem. Not for this Christian Brothers Academy team. Not in this state final.

Greg Malafronte and Anthony Cucich scored in the second period, Derek Contessa tied it with 2:47 left in the third and Dean DiFazio deflected home the game-winning goal 3:48 into sudden-death overtime when Christian Brothers, No. 3 in The NJ.com Top 20, stormed back to stun No. 1 Delbarton, 4-3, before 9,310 in attendance at the 40th NJSIAA/Devils Non-Public championship game Monday night at the Prudential Center.

After skating to a 4-4 tie and being declared co-champions with Morristown-Beard in last season's finale, CBA would settle for nothing short of skating off with sole possession of the state title this season. Chris Hayes' shot from the point, which deflected off bodies in front before bouncing off DiFazio last, secured it for the Lincroft school.

"Last year, the tie, we felt unrewarded, but we made it back," CBA coach Ryan Bogan said. "The character, the heart, I've known some of these guys since they were 6 years old. Unbelievable. You can't write a better story."

"Winning a state championship? This is the best feeling of my life," senior Conor Tierney said. "What an unbelievable feeling. I love these guys! They showed a lot of heart. Down three to the best team in the state? We showed that we are the best team in the state and came back to win it all right here."

The NJSIAA title marks Christian Brothers' seventh in school history and first outright since its memorable 2-1 overtime victory over Delbarton at Continental Airlines Arena in 2005.

"Going into overtime, it was just like last year," Malafronte, a senior, said. "I knew we had this one in the bag and when I saw it go in it was a moment of relief. The puck came to the point to Hayes, he ripped one through a screen right off the goalie's blocker, right off Dean DiFazio's chest, right into the net. When it was over we knew we were champions."

Delbarton broke a scoreless tie in the second period on a couple of bang-bang goals from junior defenseman Andrew Petrillo 1:47 apart. Petrillo, following up a play started by Steven Agriogianis and Anthony Farinacci, banged home the rebound 1:07 into the middle frame to start the scoring.

The steady blueliner then took a pass from Farinacci from the corner and let go a wrist shot through traffic that put Delbarton up 2-0 with just 2:55 gone in the second.

M.J. Melillo gave Delbarton a 3-0 advantage with 5:11 to play in the second period, but the goal awakened Christian Brothers, which responded with goals from Malafronte and Cucich to slash the deficit to one just prior to the end of the period.

"There was a lot of wavering, but there was no doubt," Bogan said. "The goal by Malafronte? Without that we were cooked. (Fortunately) we were four lines deep and Anthony Cucich, his goal, unbelievable. CBA should be proud."

After CBA climbed to within one, Contessa scored off assists by Malafronte and Bjorn Kvaale sending CBA into overtime in the final for the second straight year.

This one would have a different ending.

"Here we are," Bogan said with state title in hand. "That heart, that character? That commitment got us here. Work ethic, all year long, that's what got us here."

Delbarton fell in a state final for the first time since 2005, when it also lost to CBA. With 10 NJSIAA titles to its credit, the Morris Township school ranks first in state history.

"The turning point in the game was the end of the second period when they responded with two quick goals," Delbarton coach Bruce Shatel said. "We had some breakdowns, but to their credit CBA responded. They were a very tough opponent and got the bounces they needed to prevail.

"We did our best to kind of forget about what happened in the third period and we needed somebody to make a play. I thought we got some pretty good pressure right before they got the bounce they needed. I still don't know if it hit off of one of our players or one of their players. We had a couple good looks, it didn't go our way. It's just part of sports. Sometimes you win and when it doesn't work out your way it really hurts, you know."

PUBLIC B FINAL



Middletown North 5, Ramsey 4



Complete coverage | Game story | Public B All-Tournament team released | Photo gallery | WATCH Middletown North interviews with Anthony Manfredi | Bobby Hampton | Timmy Felice | Khristian Acosta | WATCH Handshake line

PUBLIC A FINAL

Randolph 2, Howell 1

Complete coverage | Game story | Unlikely heroes | Winning never gets old | Howell shows pride | Public A All-Tournament team | Photo gallery | WATCH Randolph celebration | WATCH Randolph interviews with Matt Bruno | Mathew Koop | WATCH Handshake line

EXPANDED COVERAGE

Ice Hockey Season Preview: 2014-15

Ice Hockey Season Rewind: 2013-14

Ice Hockey Season Rewind: 2012-13

Ice Hockey Season Rewind: 2011-12

Ice Hockey Season Rewind: 2010-11

Ice Hockey Season Rewind: 2009-10

Ice Hockey Season Rewind: 2008-09

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