Middletown North junior Brian Kirk scored at 10:03 of the third period to snap a 2-2 tie and send the Lions on their way to a 4-2 victory over the Raiders. Kirk also set up the game-tying goal off the stick of senior forward Walter Heid to help the Lions get back to .500 at 6-6.
Travis Foster had given the Raiders (4-7-1) a 2-1 lead when he converted a pass from linemate Stephen Giordano at 1:54 of the third. In the first period, Foster set up Giordano for a goal at 3:03 to give Toms River East a 1-0 lead. Middletown North tied things up at 6:37 on a goal by Joe Vega. Ricky Buonomo, who assisted on Vega's goal, sealed the victory with an empty-net goal.
Shane Hall stopped 12 of 14 shots for the Lions while Travis LeBar had 25 saves for the Raiders.
Box Score
Middletown North 4, Toms River East 2
Middletown North (6-6) 1 0 3 - 4
Toms River East (4-7-1) 1 0 1 - 2
Scoring - First period: (T) Stephen Giordano (Travis Foster) 3:03; (M) Joe Vega (Ricky Buonomo) 6:37; Third period: (T) Travis Foster (Stephen Giordano) 1:54; (M) Walter Heid (Brian Kirk, Dan Reno) 7:45; (M) Brian Kirk (Dan Wrensen, Rich Meyer) 10:03; (M) Ricky Buonomo (John Evans, Rich Meyer) 14:45 (EN).
Saves: (M) Shane Hall 12; (T) Travis LeBar 25.
Shots: Middletown North 29-14.
E-mail: badders@digitalsports.com