3/3/07
Boys Semifinals – Updates from Salem, NH
Avon Old Farms 3, Nobles 1 (final) --
Goaltenders: Muse for Nobles; Wolcott for Avon. Nobles scored about five minutes into the period when Mark Hourihan, from down around the left faceoff circle, got the puck out to Gus Young at the left point. Young's shot to the far top corner beat Wolcott, who appeared to be screened. The first period was pretty frenetic, and the players seemed over-amped, not surprising since the crowd, in particular the Avon kids with their noisemakers, is loud.
In the second period, Avon's forwards got into gear, putting pressure on Nobles from the start. Muse held the fort early, but after 80 or so minutes of not allowing a postseason goal, was finally solved as Avon scored when their center, off the faceoff, pushed the puck by his Nobles counterpart, getting it on net, where it was pushed past Muse -- a blue collar goal. James Chamness was credited with the goal; Brad Cooper and Ryan Butler assisting. That made it a 1-1 game. After that, Nobles got themselves into trouble, primarily by taking two offensive zone slashing penalties within three minutes: Avon's potent power play cashed in on both opportunities. The first, with Matt Marshall in the box, came when Nobles failed to clear the puck. Avon's Tom Atkinson corralled a bouncing puck inside the blue line and fed Cam Atkinson, who one-timed a shot past Muse to give Avon a 2-1 lead at 10:43. A little over two minutes later, with Mike Griffin in the box, Derrick Pallis' blade popped out as he was attempting to clear the zone, meaning what was a 5-on-4 turned into what was essentially a 5-on-3. Avon's Bonino jumped all over the opportunity, firing a blistering slapshot past Muse to make it 3-1 at the 12:48 mark. Ken Trentowski picked up an assist on the goal.
In the third, Avon held the advantage in play early, but as the period moved along -- and particularly in the final 8-9 minutes -- Nobles took over. Hourihan took a nice pass from Chris Steele, but was stopped on a breakaway. Josh Franklin had a great chance. Matt Marshall had a nice chance. Nobles owned the last part of the period, but just couldn't get it past Wolcott, who played an excellent game.
Tomorrow at 3:00 pm Avon will face off against Belmont Hill for the Div. I crown. Avon's John Gardner will be going for his sixth crown, while Belmont Hill's Ken Martin will be going for his third.
Belmont Hill 7, South Kent 0 (final) --
Gedman in goal for Belmont Hill; Sorokolat for South Kent. McCollem is back in the lineup for Belmont Hill. Edge in play early went to South Kent, as Belmont Hill was called for several penalties in a row. However, South Kent, while buzzing along, was unable to cash in, though they came close several times. Gedman had a strong period, and came up with a particularly big pad save on John Tague. Late in the period, South Kent's Nick Lampson was called for hitting after the whistle and Belmont Hill quickly took advantage when Kevin McNamara moved down the right side boards and, showing patience, zipped a pass to Jason Silvia, who was camped on the edge of the crease and banged it home to put Belmont Hill up 1-0 with 1:47 left. With 14 seconds remaining there was a big scrum in front of Sorokolat, the puck was never covered up, and Silvia banged it home for this second goal of the game and a 2-0 Belmont Hill lead.
In the second, Belmont Hill got on the board again when Joe Tierney made a great pass from his end up to Jake Moscatel, who got it to Luke Arnold, who made it 3-0 Bel Hill with 8:13 left in the period. Luke Arnold scored his second goal of the period with 3:07 remaining when he came down the left side and took a shot that broke off Sorokolat's glove -- 4-0, Belmont Hill. With no time on the clock Belmont Hill was awarded a penalty shot when Dillon O'Hara was called for tripping on Moscatel. Sorokolat stopped him.
Early in the third -- 28 seconds in to be exact -- Belmont Hill went up 5-0, scoring from a scrum in front. We don't know exactly who put it home, but it was the result of a lot of work and a lot of whacking away at it -- Belmont Hill scored on the fifth shot of the flurry.
Belmont Hill went up 6-0 when Silvia, forechecking behind the net, beat two South Kent players for the puck, spun, and passed it to Moscatel coming down the slot. Moscatel rifled it low stick side.
Belmont Hill made it 7-0 with 32 second left as Jack McNamara made a perfect pass to Silvia, who fired it home for his third goal of the game.
Vermont Academy 4, Hebron 1 (final) --
The first period ended 0-0. Hebron had a ton of chances, did a good job getting it to the doorstep but couldn't find the handle and convert on any of them. Starting goaltenders are Jon Glant for Hebron and Julien Hernandez for VA.
In the second period, Hebron had a goal waved off early because the referee was out of position and blew his whistle too early. Shortly after, Vermont began to take it to Hebron and eventually cashed in with a couple of goals less than two minutes apart. The first came when Oleg Koval picked up a puck off the backboards and tucked it past Glant at the 7:17 mark. VA went up 2-0 when Brian Gibbons, from the left point, hit Justin Aquino at the far faceoff circle with a pass. Aquino lifted it over Glant for the goal.
Early in the third period, Hebron got on the board when VA turned it over in center ice and Hebron broke in 2-on-1. Oleksandr Romanenko held the puck and then wristed it home from the slot, beating Hernandez low blocker side at the 2:37 mark. However, midway through the period VA got it back when, on the power play, Mike Donnellan hit Brian Gibbons with a pass and Gibbons, at the right faceoff circle snapped one high over Glant's glove to make it 3-1 Vermont at the 7:57 mark. After the goal, Vermont kept the pressure on and didn't allow Hebron to get back into the game. Gibbons added an empty netter with 47 seconds left to make it 4-1.
Vermont Academy advances to tomorrow's 12:30 pm title game against Hoosac.
Hoosac 5, Brunswick 1 (Final) --
Hoosac leads 2-0 after one period on goals from Matthew David, a slapshot from the left faceoff circle following a center ice turnover with 1:57 remaining. Hoosac went up 2-0 with 29 seconds left when Sy Nutkevitch outworked two Brunswick defenders and fed a pass in front to Mike Schiavi – a pretty goal. Hoosac outshot Brunswick 13-9.
Hoosac leads 3-0 after two periods as, early in the period, Sy Nutkevitch took a nice cross-crease pass from Mike Schiavi and just tapped it past Brunswick goaltender Michael Petchonka. The Hoosac goaltender is Kyle Ferguson.
Hoosac has gone ahead 4-0 1:28 into the third, Schiavi on an odd-man rush, converting a pass from Nutkevich. With 2:37 left Hoosac goes ahead 5-0 on a power play goal as Matthew David converted a Sy Nutkevitch pass.
Hoosac will play the winner of Hebron-Vermont Academy tomorrow at 12:30 pm.
Championship Sunday -- with Updates
3/4/07
Choate 5, Nobles 2 (final) --
Choate went up 1-0 at 8:28 when Hilary Knight jammed home a rebound, assists going to Emily Vitale and Maura Leahy. Choate got on the board again when Nicolle Perry scored, assisted by Vitale again and Knight. At the end of one Choate is up 2-0.
In the second, Nobles struck first, as Maggie Suprey tallied, with assists going to Kelly Cooke and Corey Stearns at 4:07. Choate countered with a 5-on-3 goal by Knight, assisted by Josephine Pucci at 11:07. The last goal of the period was a power play score off the stick of Nobles' Tara Lessard. Stearns and Perdios assisted. Nobles had a ton of scoring chances in the period. After two, Choate is up 3-2.
In the third, Knight scored, from Nicolle Perry at 8:40 to make it 4-2. Kate Goldman added an empty netter, from Knight, with 50 second left. Knight was named MVP. Coach Riepenhoff of Choate said "I think that one thing that helped us a tremendous amount is that our team has amazing on and off-ice chemistry which always helps a team. Also scoring thats penalty kill goal gave us huge boost of confidence and that's how we won the game."
Greenwich Academy 3, Rivers 0 (final) --
Greenwich came out flying, scoring two early goals. Kelly Crane put GA up 1-0 with the assist from Audrey Carter-Tracy at the 2:08 into the period. Julia Ireland made it 2-0 with the assist going to Katherine Pujol at 3:36. The last goal of the period was scored by Ireland, her second of the game, off a pass from Danielle Schaevitz at 9:49. 3-0 GA after one.
The second period was scoreless -- a good defensive effort by both teams.
Greenwich didn't add any more goals after their three-goal first period. Rivers had a strong defensive second and third period. Moe Tarrent, GA's head coach, said "I think that Rivers played a phenomenal game. But I think that it was our defense that really pulled it together and helped us pull out the win. Also Alexa Pujol had kept us in the game all the way." After the game the MVP award was given to Julia Ireland, who had a four-goal tournament.
Championship Sunday -- with Updates
3/4/07
Choate 2, Nobles 0 (after 1) --
Choate went up 1-0 at 8:28 when Hilary Knight jammed home a rebound, assists going to Emily Vitale and Maura Leahy. Choate got on the board again when Nicolle Perry scored, assisted by Vitale again and Knight. At the end of one Choate is up 2-0.
Greenwich Academy 3, Rivers 0 (final) --
Greenwich came out flying, scoring two early goals. Kelly Crane put GA up 1-0 with the assist from Audrey Carter-Tracy at the 2:08 into the period. Julia Ireland made it 2-0 with the assist going to Katherine Pujol at 3:36. The last goal of the period was scored by Ireland, her second of the game, off a pass from Danielle Schaevitz at 9:49. 3-0 GA after one.
The second period was scoreless -- a good defensive effort by both teams.
Greenwich didn't add any more goals after their three-goal first period. Rivers had a strong defensive second and third period. Moe Tarrent, GA's head coach, said "I think that Rivers played a phenomenal game. But I think that it was our defense that really pulled it together and helped us pull out the win. Also Alexa Pujol had kept us in the game all the way." After the game the MVP award was given to Julia Ireland, who had a four-goal tournament.
3/3/07
Girls' Semifinals – from Brookline, Mass.
Nobles 3, Loomis 0 (final) --
Both teams came out flying, and both teams had numerous scoring chances but came up short. The first period ended 0-0.
In the second, Nobles came out strong. At the 8:33 mark of the period Maggie Suprey took a nice pass from Tara Lessard, came down on a breakaway and roofed it on the Loomis goalie. After two periods, Nobles is on top 1-0.
In the third, Nobles went up 2-0 at the 1:29 mark when Corey Stearns scored on a rebound, with an assist going to Laura Nelson. At 13:42 Broghan Cully took a great from Kelly Cooke and slipped in on a one timer to make it 3-0. After the game, Nobles head coach Tom Resor said the whole team played very well, but it was goalie Kylie Stephens that got the praise for keeping Nobles in the game. Tomorrow Nobles will play Choate for the Div I championship.
Choate 3, Hotchkiss 0 (final) --
In the first, senior Hillary Knight pulled Choate ahead with a top shelf goal that was assisted from Maura Leahy at 3:47. After one period of play Choate leads Hotchkiss, 1-0.
In the second, Nicolle Perry scored on a wraparound to put Choate up 2-0, Knight assisting.
In the third, Knight scored an empty net goal with 17 seconds left, an assist going to linemate Katie MacKinnon. Choate coach Courtney Riepenhoff gave kudos after the game to her netminder, Jocelyn Yokow, who made 27 saves on that night. Choate will play the winner of Loomis-Chaffee/Nobles in tomorrow's Div. I championship game.
Greenwich Academy 5, Middlesex 3 (final) --
Middlesex and GA are tied up 1-1 after one, as Heather Landry scored for Middlesex at 2:38, with an assist going to Kristin Ohanian. Julia Ireland scored for GA from Bray Ketchum at 14:07
After the second Greenwich leads Middlesex 3-2. Danielle Schaevitz scored for GA at 6:57, followed by Ireland from Katherine Pujol at 11:21. Middlesex's only second period goal came from Landry from Caroline Corbett at 1:50.
In the third period Greenwich came out flying and scored two goals right off the bat. The first by Ketchum from Eleanor Castine at 4:58, then at 9:10 Danielle Schaevitz caught Middlesex sleeping on a line change and came down and scored on a break away. Middlesex's only goal of the period came from Landry, her second of the game, with the assist going to Hannah Systrom. Coach Moe Tarrant of Greenwich attributed his team's strong performance to the experience of his nine seniors that won them the game. Greenwich will face Rivers in the championship game on Sunday.
Rivers 3, Brooks 1 (final) --
With both teams coming out flying the period ends with a 0-0 score. Rivers was able to wring out six shots -- all great scoring chances -- and Brooks five. One penalty for Brooks -- Liz Bruno for a trip
After the second Rivers leads Brooks 1-0 with the Rivers goal coming off the stick of Lauren Glynn at 1:55, a rocket through the Brooks netminder' five hole.
The final scores was 3-1 Rivers. The second goal -- the game winner -- was scored by Jacqueline Bouchie to make it 2-0. Brooks cut the lead to 2-1 late in the third period when Marina Moschitto scored to make it 2-1. Jillian Dempsey made it 3-1 Rivers at 14:53. Brooks had a total of four penalties and Rivers had four also. Rivers goalie Andrea Schweitzer absolutely kept Rivers in the game making a total of 28 saves. Rivers coach Kristin Harder said after the game that she thought that both teams were running on adrenaline and in the third period Rivers managed to calm down and really pull out the win. It was a great game from both sides. Rivers will play the winner of Middlesex and Greenwich Academy in the championship game Sunday at 10:30 am.
3/2/07
Prep Semis, Finals on Tap
Here's the official schedule for this weekend's prep girls semifinals and finals at the Southfield School in Brookline, Mass. First game is at 10:00 am Saturday. Driving directions are below. Please check USHR for coverage as the day goes along.
Div. I Semifinal Matchups:
At the Southfield School; Brookline, Mass., Sat. March 3, 2007
Hotchkiss vs. Choate, 2:00 pm
Loomis vs. Nobles, 4:00 pm
The Div. I championship game:
At the Southfield School; Brookline, Mass., Sun. March 4, 2007 at 12:30 pm
***
Div. II Semifinal Matchups:
At the Southfield School; Brookline, Mass., Sat. March 3, 2007
Rivers vs. Brooks, 10:00 am
Middlesex vs. Greenwich Academy, 12:00 pm
The Div. II championship game:
At the Southfield School; Brookline, Mass., Sun. March 4, 2007 at 10:30 am
Driving Directions: There’s a good link on the Southfield School web site that contains directions from whichever point of the compass you’re arriving. We’ve included the link below. Note: When you reach Newton St. keep your eyes peeled for St. Paul’s Ave., which is a small side street, not really an avenue at all, that leads up to the school’s entrance. The rink is all the way at the end of St. Paul’s Ave. There is good parking on the roof -- and a nice view of Boston, too.
Driving Directions to the Southfield School
