The number one seed Pascack Valley Panthers (16-5) defeated the number 16 seed River Dell Golden Hawks (6-14) 7-3 in the first round of the NJSIAA North, Public Co-Op Tournament at Sport-O-Rama Ice Rinks in Monsey, New York.
@PV_Hockey_Assoc defeats @rdwepuck 7-3 in @NJSIAA First Round #NorthPublicCoOpTournament @ONNJSports 🏒 pic.twitter.com/Cv3fCJE680
— Sports News By Sunil Sunder Raj (@SunilSportsNews) February 25, 2025
Scoreless through the first nine minutes of action in the first period, Pascack Valley broke the stalemate as Tyler Rothstein took a pass from Justin Yoo. Then Rothstein turned on the jet burners, skating past two River Dell defensemen, breaking into the offensive zone, and unleashing a laser shot into the net.
@PV_Hockey_Assoc takes a 1-0 lead against @rdwepuck in the first period in a goal by #TylerRothstein 🏒 pic.twitter.com/rg1gkGTlLY
— Sports News By Sunil Sunder Raj (@SunilSportsNews) February 25, 2025
With one minute remaining in the period, the Golden Hawks were on the power play, a situation in which they had a numerical advantage due to a penalty against the Panthers. During this time, Nicholas Hawrylczak grabbed a rebound of a shot on goal and snapped a shot into the net, tying the game up at 1-1.
@rdwepuck ties the game up @ 1-1 against @PV_Hockey_Assoc in the first period on a power play goal by #NicholasHawrylczak 🏒 pic.twitter.com/Iy6kAqqpYs
— Sports News By Sunil Sunder Raj (@SunilSportsNews) February 25, 2025
In the second period, River Dell had another man-advantage situation. Still, the Panthers turned the tables when Marty Tarabocchia rushed up the right side of the ice into the Golden Hawks zone, sidestepped a defenseman, and sliced a shot into the net with less than 13 minutes left.
@PV_Hockey_Assoc reclaims the lead 2-1 against @rdwepuck in the second period on a shorthanded goal by #MartyTarabocchia 🏒 pic.twitter.com/r6yhqrYjcy
— Sports News By Sunil Sunder Raj (@SunilSportsNews) February 25, 2025
Not even a minute later, Pascack Valley extended their advantage to 3-1 as they cycled the puck behind the River Dell net. Then Austin Groves took a pass and slammed home a shot into the back of the net.
#AustinGroves goal extends @PV_Hockey_Assoc advantage to 3-1 over @rdwepuck in the second period. 🏒 pic.twitter.com/fpgiQTKx7J
— Sports News By Sunil Sunder Raj (@SunilSportsNews) February 25, 2025
The Panthers were relentless in their pressure on the Golden Hawks’ end of the ice. One minute and 24 seconds later, Austin Groves tallied his second goal of the game. He bolted up the left side of the ice into the River Dell zone and, from a crazy angle, cranked a wicked shot that went top shelf into the right corner of the net.
@PV_Hockey_Assoc expands lead to 4-1 against @rdwepuck in the second period on #AustinGroves 2nd goal of the game 🏒 pic.twitter.com/A6VagYpMmM
— Sports News By Sunil Sunder Raj (@SunilSportsNews) February 25, 2025
However, the Golden Hawks displayed a lot of grit and determination, answering back with five and a half minutes to go. From close range, TJ Fragoso sniped a shot into the net that was initially not ruled a goal due to a stoppage play, where the game is temporarily halted. After the stoppage play, the referee and linesman huddled together and overturned the call.
@rdwepuck trims @PV_Hockey_Assoc lead to 4-2 in the second period on a goal by #TJFragoso 🏒 pic.twitter.com/lbc8qt9tN6
— Sports News By Sunil Sunder Raj (@SunilSportsNews) February 25, 2025
Three minutes later, River Dell found the scoresheet again with Kenny Walsh darting into the Pascack Valley zone and snapping a nifty shot that slipped past the stick side and into the upper corner of the net.
@rdwepuck narrows the gap to 4-3 against @PV_Hockey_Assoc in the second period on a goal by #KennyWalsh 🏒 pic.twitter.com/zkXg7JpCxs
— Sports News By Sunil Sunder Raj (@SunilSportsNews) February 25, 2025
The Panthers countered the Golden Hawks’ momentum with a backbreaker goal as Austin Groves registered the hat trick in the zone, gathering the puck in front of the net after a shot on goal and banging the shot in with eight seconds to go.
#AustinGroves registers the hat trick that puts @PV_Hockey_Assoc up 5-3 against @rdwepuck with 8 seconds remaining in the second period. 🏒 pic.twitter.com/2tZfV7S544
— Sports News By Sunil Sunder Raj (@SunilSportsNews) February 25, 2025
Two minutes into the third period, Pascack Valley expanded its lead to 6-3. Owen Dargan took a pass from out of the corner in the River Dell zone and drove to the net, where Dargan made some dazzling moves and backhanded the puck into the net.
#OwenDargan backhands the puck into the net that widens @PV_Hockey_Assoc margin to 6-3 against @rdwepuck in the third period. 🏒 pic.twitter.com/R6VtAJAT96
— Sports News By Sunil Sunder Raj (@SunilSportsNews) February 25, 2025
Two minutes later, the Panthers put the finishing touches on a dynamic offensive performance as Tyler Rothstein notched his second goal of the game.
Pascack Valley will face eight-seed Kinnelon (11-8-2) in the quarterfinals on Thursday, Feb. 27 back at Sport-O-Rama Ice Rinks. The face-off is set for 8:55 p.m.
