Girls Ice Hockey Senior Night was packed with heart-pounding action and last-minute drama, with the Rams winning 7-6 against Princeton on Wednesday, Dec. 18. Their early-season record now stands at 2-1.
Before the game, seniors Jaclyn Mars, Jessa Altemose, Yolanda Sabillion, Caroline Coe, Camryn Browing, Olivia Olechowski and Mackenzie Feldmar were greeted on the ice by their families and given flowers.
The Rams wasted no time setting the tone, with freshman Charna Torres scoring just one minute into the first period, energizing the crowd. Torres added to the excitement by putting another one into the back of the net, bringing the score to 2-0. However, Princeton responded late and cut the lead to 2-1 as the first period ended, setting the stage for a tightly contested game.
The second period saw Princeton storm back, capitalizing on opportunities to even the score and eventually take the lead. Torres added another goal onto the score board for Randolph, resulting in an impressive hat trick. The period ended 5-3, leaving the Rams facing a tough challenge heading into the third period.
“The ceremony fired us up and got us goals quick, but then it took us a while to find our groove again,” Assistant Coach Ryan Hallock said.
The Rams refused to back down in the final period, showing incredible effort and determination. Battling back from 5-3, they clawed their way back into the game with relentless offense and key defensive plays. Torres weaved through players putting in two more goals for the Rams, followed by sophomore Promise Kinnier sparking the comeback with her own crucial goal.
As the clock wound down, Princeton managed to find the back of the net one last time, leveling the score at 6-6 with fewer than five minutes remaining. The tension in the arena was tight as both teams fought fiercely for the winning goal. With the game on the line, Torres put one into the back of Princeton’s net, ending the game 7-6.
“Being able to kill the final minutes was huge,” Hallock said. “It was a very big division game for us.”
Cheer on the Rams at their next game, taking place in Cranford on Friday, Jan. 3, at Warinanco Park.
