Hanover made a formidable comeback within the Div. 3 boys ice hockey state semifinals, scoring three objectives within the remaining interval to say a 3-1 victory.
The fifth-seeded Rams performed an intense recreation, however top-seeded Hanover held them off lengthy sufficient with a powerful protection and a terrific effort in web from goalie Ryan McArdle.
Down 1-0 heading to the third, the Hawks drew even at simply 1:45 within the interval as Joe Galvin scored for the Hawks.
“I received a terrific cross from Jack Dougherty, and it simply received the momentum going,” Galvin stated.
From there, Hanover took benefit of the momentum and stored the strain on. Hanover junior Ran Kisiel scored a second objective with 6:50 remaining then adopted with an empty-net marker with simply 1.1 seconds to go to ship the Hawks again to the title recreation, the place they are going to face No. 3 Medfield, a 5-0 winner over Nauset in its semifinal matchup, on Sunday at TD Backyard.
The Rams got here out swinging with a number of photographs. None of this appeared to faze McArdle, whose efforts held off Shawsheen till Jake Banda tipped in a shot from Josh Baker on the ability play with 1:42 left within the first interval.
The objective occurred after the Hawks noticed captain Cam Melone briefly go down with an damage. Galvin stated this motivated Hanover to play for his or her captain.
“We noticed our senior captain go down,” Galvin stated. “It’s not going to be his final recreation that he’s going to look at us play, we fought for him.”
Simply as Hanover was beginning to decide up the tempo, Shawsheen head coach Chuck Baker stated his group misplaced its stride.
“As soon as (Hanover) scored their first objective, we misplaced management,” Baker stated. “We couldn’t permit a group as assured as (Hanover) to take management of the sport.”
Hanover coach Jonny Abban stated the group has had comebacks earlier than, and he had religion within the group as they got here alive within the third interval.
“I knew we might do it… we have been in a position to pull it collectively within the third and dwell for one more day,” Abban stated.
Hanover returns to the title recreation for the primary time since 2024, when it fell to Dover-Sherborn/Weston within the Div. 4 championship. This system final gained a state title in 2022.
