March 1, 2023-- Toms River South-East hockey lost to defending state champion Governor Livingston-New Providence yesterday 4-1 in the quarterfinals of the NJSIAA Public C tournament.

The loss ends a successful season for the co-op of High School East and High School South players, who entered this year’s state tournament as the eighth seed. Preliminary and first-round wins secured their matchup against top-seeded Gov. Livingston, but the Highlanders proved too much to handle.

Particularly in the second period, when Gov. Livingston-New Providence scored a flurry of goals—three in less than seven minutes—to take control of the game, which they wouldn’t cede.

Those second-period goals all came off rebounds. Indeed, SEAST goalie Chase Witt did his part to keep his team in the game, notching an incredible 35 saves on 39 shots. A goal by Ryan Fortunato (left) knotted the game at one in the first before the Highlanders pulled away.

Congratulations on a memorable and successful season for South-East hockey, and best of luck in 2023-2024. Photos below are courtesy of High School East's Allison Goodwin.