ARLINGTON — A five-goal, first-round beatdown from Arlington final season was a tough introduction to the Ed Burns Espresso Pot Event’s higher Doherty division for the Tewksbury boys hockey staff.
A 12 months later, the Redmen didn’t flinch within the rematch Sunday evening.
With two targets precisely one minute aside within the second interval, and a standout efficiency from goalie Cole Abruzi (20 saves) and the protection to restrict No. 5 Arlington, No. 7 Tewksbury (14-0-1) secured a 2-1 win to advance to the celebrated in-season event’s championship spherical subsequent Sunday.
“We had been simply decided,” junior defenseman Jake Cunha mentioned. “Clearly our predominant purpose is a state championship. However this can be a massive a part of our season. Coming in right here and taking them down after a troublesome loss final 12 months, it means rather a lot to us.”
Whereas Arlington ended the primary interval with a 1-0 lead on Cam Petrillo’s power-play purpose, a quick begin performed a serious position for Tewksbury in setting the tone.
It took practically seven minutes in for the Spy Ponders (11-4) to register their first shot on purpose, whereas Tewksbury peppered John Snider (30 saves) with 11 photographs within the first. Proper from the leap, Tewksbury head coach Derek Doherty might see the starvation the group was enjoying with.
“The groups on this event proper now can compete in opposition to anyone,” Doherty mentioned. “I assumed we got here out and had an actual sturdy first interval. Sort of went proper at them onerous, type of set the tone. After which we took care of enterprise. … I’m pleased with all of them. All of them performed onerous.”
“We play our greatest recreation after we come out onerous, bodily and quick,” Cunha added.
The beginning of the second interval noticed Arlington head to the field lower than three minutes in, nevertheless it did a masterful job by way of a lot of the penalty kill to disclaim Tewksbury from clear appears to be like. It even had two shorthanded scoring possibilities that had been shot simply off the mark of tight home windows.
As the ability play expired, although, the Redmen acquired a shot on web from the appropriate circle that bounced in entrance. Jack Ryan was there to wash it up for the tying purpose.
A minute later, Kevin Andriolo adopted his personal rebound on a wraparound with a purpose in entrance to provide Tewksbury the 2-1 lead.
“After the primary (purpose), we by no means actually acquired down on ourselves,” Abruzi mentioned. “We knew we had been nonetheless within the recreation it doesn’t matter what. It type of comes a great distance if we preserve placing the stress on them, which we did all recreation.”
Doherty mentioned earlier than the sport that Abruzi can be prepared, later saying he simply appeared significantly locked in for the matchup.
He had eight saves within the third interval as Arlington introduced stress in a tying try, and denied a number of extra possibilities within the second interval by way of two Spy Ponders penalties.
“Yeah, I acquired to the rink actually early at this time,” Abruzi mentioned. “Juggled half-hour, stretched out a ton, and hand-eye coordination was there each time on this zone. … I simply noticed it in the entire approach.”
After Arlington scored on its first energy play, Tewksbury’s penalty kill held it 0-for-2.
The Spy Ponders did nicely to decelerate Tewksbury’s offensive stress over the past 5 minutes of the primary, and appeared to achieve momentum with the power-play purpose that Nolan Russell assisted.
However Tewksbury nonetheless produced a number of prices the remainder of the best way. Snider was pivotal in holding it a one-goal recreation.
With the win, the Redmen stay the state’s solely unbeaten boys hockey staff. They await the winner of tomorrow evening’s semifinal between Hingham and Canton to see who they face within the Doherty championship recreation.
Will probably be subsequent Sunday at Tsongas Middle. Reaching that stage is some extent of satisfaction for Tewksbury.
“This can be a essential event to us,” Doherty mentioned. “It type of says who’s the highest public faculty staff within the state. For us to be in there as a Div. 2 staff, we’re fairly pleased with that and the youngsters work onerous for it.”
