In sports, it's not always about wins or losses. It comes down to how a team responds after a loss. Succisa Virescit: cut down, it grows back stronger.

Step one: identify mistakes and adjust to transform them into positive outcomes. "We had six losses this year," goalie Kenny Burgess '18 said. "That doesn't happen very often. But we knew that after battling through all those games and all those losses it was our time to get a bounce and we did." For the Delbarton Varsity Hockey team, two early-season losses to Don Bosco Prep fueled the fire that lead to the Prudential Center on Monday afternoon for the Non-Public Finals.

Having defeated the Ironmen 2-1 in overtime at Codey Arena in the Gordon Cup Finals 15 days ago, the Green Wave understood what was needed to defeat Don Bosco once more. The team also knew the Ironmen would be ready and motivated, looking to avenge their Gordon Cup loss. Pat Harrington '18 opened the scoring with 4:46 in the first period with a short-side slapper that got past goalie Max Schwarz, the first time all season the Green Wave had a lead against Don Bosco. Delbarton held onto a 1-0 lead into the first intermission but Don Bosco tied the score with 4:47 in the second period on a rebound goal by Robbie Greenleaf. The Green Wave failed to clear the puck out of their zone after a barrage of scoring opportunities by the Ironmen with Greenleaf putting home the rebound to the left of Burgess. Just a minute and a half later, Tyler Sedlak found himself alone in the high slot, ripping a shot past a screened Burgess for a 2-1 Don Bosco lead.

Before the end of the second period, Delbarton got its first power play opportunity and they wasted no time evening the score. Nick Siffringer '18 sent a well-timed pass across the crease to a streaking Jalen Kaplan '18 who buried the puck into the open net for a 2-2 tie with 54.8 seconds left. "Our whole objective in the two championship games with them was to be even going into the third or down by one," said head coach Bruce Shatel. "Just keep the game within striking distance and shorten it up a little bit. We did that."

The third period opened with scoring opportunities for both teams with the Green Wave breaking the tie early in the third. Hunter Macy '18 ripped a wrist shot just inside the left post for the game-winning goal 2:21 into the period off a pass from Brendan Clark '20. From there, the Green Wave defense continued to dig in, preventing any pucks from entering deep into the Delbarton zone. The Green Wave sealed their championship victory with an empty-net goal by Bayard Hall '20 with 38 seconds remaining in the period. "We found a way to work together, buy in, block shots and work together as a team," says Hunter Macy. "Fortunately, it worked out for us today"

With the victory on Monday, the Green Wave has now won three consecutive Non-Public A championships, and 13 titles overall. Congratulations to Coach Bruce Shatel (who has led Delbarton to 11 of our 13 titles), assistants Gerry Brophy and Craig Wicker, and the Green Wave Hockey players who brought the state title back to Delbarton once again. Go Green Wave!