Brett McHale and James Swartz each scored two goals, and the Parkland ice hockey team remained undefeated, nearly midway through the winter season, with an 8-3 win over Phillipsburg Monday night at the Lehigh Valley Ice Arena in Whitehall.

The game was all Trojans (8-0) from the drop of the puck. McHale scored two goals, and Ryan Dumbach added one to take an early 3-0 advantage. The Stateliners looked deflated, and it was smooth sailing from then on.

"Big players step up in big games," Swartz said. "This was a great game for us, because when we're playing harder teams like Emmaus it's easy to get up for it. But a game like this it's tough. We played with intensity."

Phillipsburg scored a goal on its power play with 1:21 left in the first period to at least give them some life.

But another three-goal period ended any kind of comeback by Phillipsburg.

Swartz, Morgan Bensinger and Nicolas Chandik found the back of the net in the second 16 minutes. The three players scored in three different ways. Bensinger hit his past the glove side of Stateliners goalie Chris Ramsdale. Swartz found the netting on the stickside of Ramsdale, and Chandik snuck his shot in through the five hole.

Jordan Lorah got the start in net for the Trojans. Lorah stopped 13 shots on 16 attempts.

The undefeated start has been hard earned, but don't think Parkland will let up one bit.

"We know that when you're undefeated you have a target on your back," said Swartz. "Everyone is gunning for you, especially because we're Parkland. We take every Monday the same way and play hard."

Benjamin Zager and Swartz found their names in the scoresheet in the third period. Evan Dratch also added an assist for the Trojans.