'04 - '05 Varsity Ice Hockey Game Summaries




DATE: December 5, 2004
OPPONENT: Brick (Away)

The Green Dragons of Brick proved to be no match for the stellar Pirates of Seton Hall Prep as The Hall defeated Brick 8-0. Juniors Mike Cacciotti, Rem Vanderbeek, and Jan Trampota led the offensive charge by netting two goals apiece. Cacciotti added two assists and Vanderbeek chipped in with one. Other goal scorers for The Prep included freshman Nick Passantino and junior Matt Markovich. Freshman Chris Preziosi, sophomores John Passantino and Matt Runciman, and junior Rich Carelli added an assist apiece. Junior Gerhard Buehning and senior Tommaso DeAngelis notched two assists each.

DATE: December 13, 2004
OPPONENT: Portledge School (Away)

Nothing can keep the Pirates down as they stormed back to manhandle Portledge 5-0. Junior Co-Captain Rem Vanderbeek and sophomore Mike Tahan deposited two goals apiece and junior Matt Anderson chipped in with three assists for The Hall. Junior Co-Captain Mike Cacciotti netted a goal and two assists while senior Mark Karinja, sophomore John Passantino, and freshman Nick Passantino added an assist each. Senior goaltender Kevin Bendel recorded his second shutout of the year stopping all 23 shots.

DATE: December 19, 2004
OPPONENT: Hudson Catholic (Away)

In a rather lopsided affair, Seton Hall Prep shutout the Hawks of Hudson Catholic 7-0. Rem Vanderbeek guided The Prep by scoring two goals and notching one assist. Mike Cacciotti netted a goal and an assist, while Matt Anderson tallied three assists. Other goal scorers for The Hall included Jan Trampota, Nick Passantino, Rich Carelli, and Jim Mahoney. Carelli added an assist, along with Gerhard Buehning, Matt Liguz, Matt Kufta, Justin Rohr, John Passantino, and Tommaso DeAngelis. Kevin Bendel stopped all 10 shots he faced to secure his third shutout of the season.

DATE: December 20, 2004
OPPONENT: St. Peter's Prep (Home)

The Pirates faced off against their second foe from Jersey City in as many nights. The Blue and White were victorious, defeating St. Peter's Prep by the final score of 5-1. Mike Cacciotti lit the lamp twice and added two assists while his classmate, Rem Vanderbeek, tallied a goal and an assist. Matt Anderson and Jan Trampota also scored for The Hall. Gerhard Buehning notched two assists, while Matt Markovich and Justin Rohr chipped in with an assist apiece. Kevin Bendel turned aside 17 shots to lock up the win.

DATE: January 3, 2005
OPPONENT: Hudson Catholic (Home)

Hudson Catholic journeyed to West Orange and was disposed of by the Pirates of Seton Hall Prep by the score of 8-1. John Passantino registered a hat trick for The Hall while Rem Vanderbeek and Gerhard Buehning netted two goals apiece. Passantino and Vanderbeek chipped in with an assist apiece as well. Mike Cacciotti recorded one goal and two assists while Matt Anderson notched three assists. Nick Passantino, Tim Margiotta, and Matt Kufta each added an assist for the Blue and White. Kevin Bendel steered aside 20 shots en route to his fifth victory of the season.

DATE: January 10, 2005
OPPONENT: Christian Brothers Academy (Home)

The Pirates were pitted against the top team in the state, the Colts of Christian Brothers Academy, and Seton Hall came out victorious by the score of 5-2. Studs Mike Cacciotti, Rem Vanderbeek, and John Passantino accounted for all of The Prep's points. Cacciotti lit the lamp twice and recorded two assists; Vanderbeek also netted two goals and added an assist; Passantino cashed in with one goal and one assist. Kevin Bendel was strong again between the pipes, steering aside 23 shots.

DATE: January 15, 2005
OPPONENT: Brick (Home)

Seton Hall handed out their first mercy killing of the year, and the victim was the Brick Green Dragons. Rich Carelli ended up with four points, one coming from a goal and three coming from assists. Gerhard Buehning and Chris Preziosi finished the night with one goal and two assists each. Matt Anderson connected to score two goals, and Nick Passantino notched a goal and an assist. Other goal scorers for The Prep included Mike Tahan, Matt Markovich, and Jim Mahoney. Rounding out the assist column with an assist apiece was Tim Margiotta, Matt Kufta, Justin Rohr, Jan Trampota, Phil Barbara, and Matt Tart. Billy Graul sticked aside six shots en route to his first shutout of the season.

DATE: January 17, 2005
OPPONENT: Don Bosco Prep (Home)

It was a proving ground for the Pirates, and they proved their worth by avenging an early season loss to Don Bosco Prep. Chris Preziosi got The Hall on the board by taking a pass from Matt Anderson and flipping it under the opposing goalie's stick hand. Later, Mike Cacciotti poked the puck over the goal line to secure Seton Hall the victory, 2-1. Both Rem Vanderbeek and Tim Margiotta assisted on Cacciotti's goal. Kevin Bendel was huge between the pipes, halting 24 of the 25 shots he faced.

DATE: January 29, 2005
OPPONENT: Bergen Catholic (Home)

A late scurry at the end of the game was not enough as Seton Hall Prep defeated the Crusaders of Bergen Catholic, 4-3. The Pirates scored three straight goals in the second period: the first by Nick Passantino, the second by Matt Markovich, and the third by John Passantino. The game-winning game came courtesy of Mike Cacciotti, sliding the puck into an empty net in the third period. Assists for The Hall came from Tommaso DeAngelis, Gerhard Buehning, and Matt Anderson. Billy Graul earned the win in net for The Prep by stopping 17 shots.

DATE: January 31, 2005
OPPONENT: St. John Vianney (Home)

The scoring started early and it came often for the Pirates. Chris Preziosi recorded a hat trick for Seton Hall and Rem Vanderbeek notched three assists. Mike Cacciotti and Tommaso DeAngelis scored a goal and an assist apiece, while Matt Anderson pitched in with two helpers. Other goal scorers for The Prep included John Passantino, Matt Markovich, and Matt Tart, who recorded his first of the season. Tim Margiotta was strong on both defense and offense, dishing out two assists. Goaltender Kevin Bendel steered 21 of 23 shots aside.

DATE: February 9, 2005
OPPONENT: Bergen Catholic (Away)

In a pivotal game, the Pirates rose to the occasion by defeating the Crusaders of Bergen Catholic, 4-1. Chris Preziosi got The Hall on the board in the first period by whistling a shot passed the opposing goaltender's right leg pad for a goal. The Prep skated hard in the third period and earned three goals: one by Matt Markovich, one by Nick Passantino, and one by Matt Tart. Mike Cacciotti, Gerhard Buehning, Mike Tahan, Tommaso DeAngelis, and Matt Kufta all recorded assists for Seton Hall. Kevin Bendel played very well between the pipes by halting 31 shots.

DATE: March 7, 2005
OPPONENT: Red Bank Catholic (Home - State Tournament Non-Public First Round)

The Caseys of Red Bank Catholic did not prove much of a challenge for the Seton Hall Prep Pirates; The Hall breezed to victory by scoring five goals to the Caseys zero. In the second period, Mike Tahan slid a backhand shot along the ice which sneaked through the five-hole of the opposing goalie. 2:16 later, Mike Cacciotti and the RBC goalie sprinted after a loose puck; Cacciotti reached the puck first and feathered it passed the out of position goaltender. In the third period, John Passantino, Chris Preziosi, and Nick Passantino all tallied goals. For the game, Tim Margiotta notched two assists and Cacciotti, Preziosi, Nick Passantino, Rem Vanderbeek, and Mark Karinja each dished out one assist. Kevin Bendel saved all 15 shots that he faced.

DATE: March 14, 2005
OPPONENT: St. Peter's Prep (State Tournament Non-Public Quarterfinals)

The Pirates advance to the Meadowlands by defeating the Marauders of St. Peter's Prep, 3-2. Seton Hall came out on fire as Matt Anderson roofed a shot over the opposing goaltender's shoulder. Gerhard Buehning took a feed in front of the St. Peter's net and shot it stick side for a goal. Later, Rem Vanderbeek broke away shorthanded and deked out the opposing goalie for The Hall's third goal. Kevin Bendel, who assisted on Vanderbeek's goal, was phenomenal between the pipes for the Blue and White, stopping 40 shots.