2/18/04
#1 Cushing Rolls Over #6 Andover, 6-1
Andover, Mass. -- #1-ranked Cushing Academy exploded for four goals in a span of 5:21 in the second period en route to a decisive 6-1 win over #6-ranked Andover here today.
The offensive star of the game was Cushing junior center Billy Ryan, who had one goal and two assists and was a force every time he stepped on the ice. The defensive star was senior goaltender Keith Longo.
Cushing was again without leading scorer Chris Bourque, who will see his doctor on Friday and, if he gets clearance, suit up for Saturday’s game against Kimball Union.
It didn’t look great for Cushing in the early going today, as the Penguins allowed Andover several glittering opportunities, including back-to-back short-handed attempts by Kyle Kucharski and Steve Rolocek, the latter off a turnover in the slot. On both occasions – and at least one or two others in the first ten or so minutes, Longo came up with glittering saves to keep the game 0-0.
Meanwhile, the Cushing offense was ratcheting it up, having their way with the Andover D. With 1:54 left in the period, Cushing finally broke through against Andover senior goalie Cory Schneider, who was under intense scrutiny today by a raftful of NHL scouts eager to see how he’d do against Cushing’s high-powered offense. On that first goal, Cushing sophomore defenseman Keith Yandle skated the puck into the left wing corner and threw it out front where sophomore Tommy Bardis one-timed it over Schneider’s glove.
Cushing, despite outshooting Andover 17-8 in the period, took just a 1-0 lead into the dressing room.
In the second period, the onslaught commenced at the 4:03 mark, as senior Ben Wahler knocked home a rebound in the slot to make it 2-0. About 45 seconds later junior Sam D’Agostino hit a pipe. Then Yandle made it 3-0 at 7:22 when his shot from the point appeared to deflect off of the skate of an Andover defenseman. Cushing made it 4-0 at 8:33 when, playing a man down, junior Alex Berry roofed one from the left face-off circle. Senior Boomer Ewing made it 5-0 with a turnaround backhander in the slot at 9:24.
Schneider wasn’t at the top of his game, though, without taking anything away from Cushing, the BC recruit received little in the way of help. After two periods, Cushing led 5-0. The shots were 38-16 in Cushing’s favor at that point.
Ryan, who’s narrowed his college choices to BU, Maine, and UNH, made it 6-0 early in the third when, with Cushing skating shorthanded, he broke in alone, put a deke on Schneider and tucked it.
With the big lead, Cushing began to take penalties in the third. At the 7:29 mark Cushing’s Kevin Kessler took a minor, and Ewing took a major, and then got tossed on a misconduct. When Cushing head coach Steve Jacobs protested, he too got a game misconduct.
Cushing killed the ensuing 5-on-3, but not the ensuing 5-on-4. At the 12:15 mark, Mike Foley hit sophomore defenseman Tommy Dignard with a nice pass just below the right faceoff circle. Dignard rifled a shot past Longo to break the shutout.
In the third Cushing took seven penalties to Andover's one. Andover outshot Cushing 14-7 in the period which was, of course, the only period in which they held an edge in shots
Schneider wound up with 39 saves on 45 shots, while Longo had 29 saves on 30 shots.
Afterward, Cushing coach Steve Jacobs said, “We came out and played a great hockey game. We were flying, moving the puck, and creating scoring chances.”
“Cory Schneider is a great goalie,” added Jacobs. “But we have a great goalie, too. For two years Keith Longo has been outstanding, and he was again today.”
Notes -- In other Top 10 action: #8 Gov. Dummer hosted Lawrence Academy and skated off with a 5-2 win behind two-point efforts from Benn Ferriero (2g), Mark Rinaldi (1g,1a), Brian McGuirk (2a), and Brian Day (2a)…. Chris Davis (1g,2a), John Mori (1g,1a), Augie DiMarzo (2g), and Sean Backman (2a) helped lead #2 Avon Old Farms to a 6-2 win at Choate… An OT goal by Holy Cross recruit Brian Kolb gave #9 Tabor a 4-3 win at #5 Thayer…. Deerfield, on the road, edged #3 Taft, 3-2… #4 Salisbury knocked off host Albany Academy, 4-2… #7 Belmont Hill beat Milton, 7-2…. Host BB&N upset #10 Noble & Greenough, 6-4.... Check game results above for full box scores.
