ARLINGTON — The implications have been excessive for each Catholic Central League boys hockey foes No. 11 Arlington Catholic and No. 12 St. Mary’s of Lynn, and after an exhilarating 50 minutes Saturday, they performed to a 2-2 draw within the first assembly of the 12 months between the 2 packages.
Twice the Spartans (6-6-1) took a lead within the first two durations, which the Cougars (10-2-1) rallied from earlier than every posted a shutout within the last body and in additional time.
Brayden Boczenowski (objective, help) led the way in which for Arlington Catholic, whereas freshman goalie Connor Anderson (33 saves) anchored St. Mary’s.
“That was a enjoyable recreation to be part of,” Spartans head coach Matthew Smith Sr. mentioned. “The hassle’s all the time there with this group. They play onerous, they embrace the blue-collar mentality.”
The tie had vital significance for each Div. 1 threats for various causes.
Arlington Catholic began the 12 months 1-2 earlier than ripping off a Div. 1-best 9 straight wins, and a tie right here extends that mark to 10 straight unbeaten video games.
“Everytime you play a league opponent, it’s a must to have just a little additional juice within the tank,” Cougars head coach Curt Colarullo mentioned. “That’s a very good opponent right now. We haven’t seen loads of the meat and potatoes of our schedule but, and that’s the beginning of it.”
It felt like St. Mary’s was due for a signature displaying, navigating an especially tough schedule with a number of slight losses. It performed No. 2 Hingham evenly on Monday as a part of a 4-2 loss, and it challenged unbeaten No. 7 Tewksbury till the Redmen took a 2-1 win within the last minutes.
“It’s good going into Wednesday evening in opposition to (Archbishop Williams) as a result of that’s one other actual good group, two evenly-matched groups,” Smith Sr. mentioned. “We’re battle examined. We’ve performed in opposition to all the very best groups within the state.”
Resiliency was a serious standout for the Cougars, who carried play in a dominant first interval with a 15-7 shot benefit. Anderson saved all 15, although, and a miscue on the finish of an Arlington Catholic energy play gave Cam Marchand a chance to steal a Spartans lead, and he crashed on a puck Cougars goalie Stephen Camara (24 saves) couldn’t safe for a objective.
Boczenowski’s centering move from the best wall discovered main scorer Tyler Heldenbergh (9-8-17) for a top-shelf snipe that tied the rating at 1-1 simply 5 minutes into the second, just for Evan Toto to scrub up in entrance on the opposite finish for St. Mary’s to retake a 2-1 lead lower than 30 seconds later.
Arlington Catholic compelled a bevy of turnovers within the Spartans defensive zone to use an extended wave of strain towards the tip of the second, although, and Boczenowski took his flip potting a objective to neutralize it once more.
“The primary objective undoubtedly set us again just a little bit, however I assumed the primary interval, we carried the play,” Colarullo mentioned. “There have been some rebounds I assumed we should always’ve acquired at the back of the web, however apart from that, coming again is nice. Youngsters confirmed some resiliency … I believe it was a great way to maintain coming again, down two occasions.”
That’s all Anderson would permit, although, regardless of quite a few scoring possibilities the Cougars generated all through.
St. Mary’s had been alternating goalies each recreation, however after 37 saves in opposition to Tewksbury on Wednesday, Smith gave Anderson a chance for an encore.
He didn’t disappoint.
“He’s superior,” Smith Sr. mentioned. “He’s been nice the final two video games. … He acquired back-to-back begins due to what he did the opposite day in opposition to Tewksbury.”
Only a sophomore, it was an enormous displaying for Boczenowski to play a task in getting two previous Anderson to drive the tie.
“(He has) some nice offensive instincts,” Colarullo mentioned. “He was proper within the slot, he acquired a terrific move from the nook, and he doesn’t miss these too typically. He’s undoubtedly one in all our offensive forces, we’re simply trying to get him going for the tip of the season.”
St. Mary’s carried play in additional time, out-shooting Arlington Catholic, 4-1. Defenseman Caleb Racki was additionally a serious standout for the Spartans, disrupting a handful of promising rushes the Cougars might have scored on in any other case.
“He’s been our rock,” Smith Sr. mentioned. “He’s performed like that each single recreation. He’s sturdy, he’s onerous to knock off the puck.”
