The Robbinsville/Allentown ice hockey team plays with both passion and professionalism. The Co-op has been in some intense battles this season and it has served it well as it has shown the ability to stay calm and rise to the occasion through the storm. The next challenge for No. 2 seed Ravens (20-5 ) is against No. 3 Manasquan (15-6-2) on Monday at 8:15 p.m. in the semifinals of the South Jersey Public Co-op Tournament. The game will be played at the Mercer County Skating Center. The other semifinal has No. 1 Toms River East facing No. 4 North Hunterdon. It is also a bit of a reunion of sorts as Robbinsville/Allentown coach Dan Bergan is a graduate of Manasquan. The two teams last met in 2016 when ‘Squan took a 5-1 decision. R/A will be looking for its first trip to the sectional final. Both teams have plenty of firepower, but as a team continues toward the end of the bracket the more the defense becomes the key component. One of the defensive standouts for R/A has been goalie Tyler Wagner. Just a sophomore, Wagner has 565 saves this season and a 2.90 goals against average. “Tyler works so hard every day at his game,’’ said Bergan. “He is so coachable and that is my area of most expertise. I’m tough on him. Every week we work on whatever is next to eliminate a goal here or there. We teach technique because technique never goes into a slump.’’ Wagner has rarely had a slump this season and he has been fortunate with some solid D-men in front of him and a very opportunistic and skilled forward line. “We think we are a tough team to shut down offensively,’’ stated Bergan. “If we have great communication defensively it will give us a good chance to compete.’’ R/A is led by the state’s top scorer Jake Lachance with 49 goals and 31 assists, James Morino has 18 goals and a team high 36 assists, Jack Lawrence has 19 goals and 30 assists and Cole Martinez chimes in with 17 goals and 16 assists. But, Bergan knows the team from the Shore Conference bringing some goal scorers to Mercer County. “Manasquan has it all,’’ declared Bergan. “Strider Carhart and Alexander Mimaud are two of the best players in the state-bar none. Carhart has tremendous hands, reach and shot and Mimaud is one of the best skaters you will see. Explosive offense from his blueline. These guys can completely take over a game.’’ Carhart has scored 37 and helped on 36 and he has eight assists in the Warriors state games, Mimaud has 17 goals and 20 assists and Luca Titner comes in with 14 goals and 17 assists, including four goals in the states.. ...read more read less