The Alternative Press

WEST ORANGE, N.J. – The Livingston Lancers' hockey team forced a 10-goal mercy rule upon the West Orange Mountaineers Friday night at the Codey Arena, giving Livingston head coach Dave Conklin a much earned birthday present.

Conklin, who has coached this Lancer team into state title contention talk, turned 50 Friday. The Lancers made sure it would be a 50^th birthday he would not soon forget.

It took Livingston seven minutes and ten seconds to score their first goal, a beautiful shot by senior Mike Koval. It would only take the Lancers thirty more minutes to score nine more.

Livingston proved last month’s 10-0 victory over West Orange was no fluke, as the Lancers toyed with the Mountaineers this time around, allowing for third and fourth line players to get substantial minutes.

Senior Justin Tauber, a depth player who has played sparingly majority of the season, made use of the extended playing time scoring two goals in the first and second period of play.

Tauber would have been the surprising star of the game if not for sophomore David Reiter’s hat trick that seemingly put the game out of reach. Reiter dominated the Mountaineers’ defense and scored with ease.

Tauber and Reiter however were not the only ones terrorized Mountaineers’ goalie Jack Sosniak, as seven different Lancers scored Friday, including freshman Jake Crockett, brother of senior Seth Crockett.

The younger Crockett is one of many underclassmen that have helped fuel Livingston to its 8-2-2 record. Following the game Seth praised his younger brother and his performance.

He said: “He’s definitely improving and has been playing well so far, I’m happy for him.”

With a talented depth and a solidified group of seniors, the Lancers seem poised to make a post season run. Senior Adam Lanel would not go as far as to guarantee a championship but believed he and his fellow teammates have a lot of  “potential” and simply “got to continue winning together.”

Following their 10-0 win, Conklin and his players celebrated their decisive victory but remembered what their final objective is.

“Our goal is not to just win a couple games a year or just make the playoffs or the state tournament,” Conklin said. “We really believe we have the talent in the locker room to make a good run at [the state tournament], and everyone here believes that.

Livingston will square off in a much-heated rematch against Millburn (8-4) Monday. The Millers came away with a controversial 7-6 victory over the Lancers the first time these two teams met back in early December.