Hingham senior Jeff West comes in on #1 PJ D'Amario |
Aided by ample power play opportunities, Hinghams veteran leaders showed up in full stride for the Harbormen in the first of the four Super 8 matches played at Tsongas Arena on Saturday. The team opened the scoring against the Springfield Cathedral Panthers early in the first period when #24 Tim Driscoll, scored his 28th goal of the season off a nice pass from linemate Eric Sherman on the power play. That goal was promptly followed when #27 Andrew Pompeo net his ninth goal of the season also on the power play and assisted by Steven Bellew.
Hingham exited the first period with a 2-0 lead over Springfield Cathedral and outshot the Panthers 16 to 5 during the first stanza.
The theme of the match-up was the power play opportunities afforded to Hingham. As one of the top, if not the top, skating teams in Mass high school hockey, Hingham was able to draw penalties from the early get-go and continued to get their chances after Cathedral was forced to play from behind.
Hingham exited the first period with a 2-0 lead over Springfield Cathedral and outshot the Panthers 16 to 5 during the first stanza.
The theme of the match-up was the power play opportunities afforded to Hingham. As one of the top, if not the top, skating teams in Mass high school hockey, Hingham was able to draw penalties from the early get-go and continued to get their chances after Cathedral was forced to play from behind.
No one likes penalties this time of year. Our power play has been great all season, and continued to play very well today, said Hingham Head Coach Tony Messina.
For both teams the game was reminiscent of the two teams last match-up on February 6. That game saw Hingham go up early with two quick goals (interestingly enough the first goal of that game was also scored by Driscoll and assisted by Sherman), followed by back and forth goal scoring. That game tied at 3-3 when Cathedral sniper Austin Orszulak scored with 18 seconds remaining in the third.
Weve been in this situation before, stated Coach Messina. After the first period one of the Springfield coaches reminded me as we passed by on the way to the locker rooms that this one was just like the last game we played.
And for a moment it did look like a replay of the game in February. Springfield scored its first goal of the game nearly 4 minutes into the second period on a defensive breakdown in the Hingham zone. Matt Peloquin, Shawn Pighetti, and Austin Orszulak teamed up on a very nicely executed tic-tac-toe passing play that resulted in Peloquins third goal of the season. That goal cut Hinghams margin to a 2-1 lead.
But unlike in the last game, Cathedral was unable to catch up on Saturday against the Harbormen. Hingham scored to make the game 3-0 when Andrew Pompeo scored his second goal of the night, stuffing in a loose rebound in front of the net off a shot from the point by Conor Coveney.
For both teams the game was reminiscent of the two teams last match-up on February 6. That game saw Hingham go up early with two quick goals (interestingly enough the first goal of that game was also scored by Driscoll and assisted by Sherman), followed by back and forth goal scoring. That game tied at 3-3 when Cathedral sniper Austin Orszulak scored with 18 seconds remaining in the third.
Weve been in this situation before, stated Coach Messina. After the first period one of the Springfield coaches reminded me as we passed by on the way to the locker rooms that this one was just like the last game we played.
And for a moment it did look like a replay of the game in February. Springfield scored its first goal of the game nearly 4 minutes into the second period on a defensive breakdown in the Hingham zone. Matt Peloquin, Shawn Pighetti, and Austin Orszulak teamed up on a very nicely executed tic-tac-toe passing play that resulted in Peloquins third goal of the season. That goal cut Hinghams margin to a 2-1 lead.
But unlike in the last game, Cathedral was unable to catch up on Saturday against the Harbormen. Hingham scored to make the game 3-0 when Andrew Pompeo scored his second goal of the night, stuffing in a loose rebound in front of the net off a shot from the point by Conor Coveney.
Austin Orszulak again cut the lead to 1 goal when he jammed in his own rebound and past Hinghams starting goaltender #30 Derek Mcinnis at 4:22 into the third.
From there Springfield sealed its own fate. The Panthers were sent to the box four times during the last period, helping to contribute to Hinghams 3/7 power play on the night. When youre fighting to comeback you really kill yourself when you take all those penalties, said Springfields Head Coach Brian Foley after the game.
The Harbormen scored their fourth and final goal off a shot from a falling Eric Sherman in the high crease. The final score ended in Hingham 4, Springfield Cathedral 2. Shots were 27 for Hingham versus 18 for Springfield.
Hingham played tougher today, stated Foley. They outplayed us and deserved to win the game.
Next for Hingham is Xaverian on Monday at 8PM at Tsongas Arena. Springfield Cathedral will play Austin Prep in the first game at 6.
From there Springfield sealed its own fate. The Panthers were sent to the box four times during the last period, helping to contribute to Hinghams 3/7 power play on the night. When youre fighting to comeback you really kill yourself when you take all those penalties, said Springfields Head Coach Brian Foley after the game.
The Harbormen scored their fourth and final goal off a shot from a falling Eric Sherman in the high crease. The final score ended in Hingham 4, Springfield Cathedral 2. Shots were 27 for Hingham versus 18 for Springfield.
Hingham played tougher today, stated Foley. They outplayed us and deserved to win the game.
Next for Hingham is Xaverian on Monday at 8PM at Tsongas Arena. Springfield Cathedral will play Austin Prep in the first game at 6.
