WALPOLE – The MIAA energy rankings haven’t precisely mirrored the power the Norwood boys hockey staff identifies to, with its membership within the Tri-Valley League seemingly weighing it right down to No. 11 within the newest replace.
Beating a former Bay State Conference foe for a second weekend in a row Sunday night time, to advance to the Brinn closing within the Ed Burns Coffee Pot Tournament, looks as if a greater illustration.
With objectives from three totally different gamers and a 37-save outing from goalie Anthony Amato at Rodman Arena, sixth-seeded Norwood (12-1-1) continued to indicate off its energy with a 3-1 win over No. 2 Braintree.
It’s been fairly the event debut for the Mustangs, who additionally beat third-seeded Weymouth within the first spherical. Now it awaits No. 4 Belmont within the division closing subsequent Sunday.
“The TVL League that we’re in, I don’t think we get any respect in there anyway, but we’re a pretty good team,” mentioned Norwood head coach Chuck Allen. “We’ll enjoy this now, it’s a great tournament. … I’m proud for these kids, more than anything. They’re starting to believe they can win. Coming to this tournament prepares you for the state tournament too, so it’s a great feeling for these guys.”
While lots the Grade-A seems to be on him had been restricted by the protection, Amato was a important determine within the win because the Mustangs had been outshot in each interval. Braintree had a pair attractiveness on the doorstep within the first, however he held a shutout by means of a lot of the day.
Norwood’s assault rewarded him within the second interval, because the forecheck generated a turnover simply contained in the Wamps blue line. Sam Lally obtained the puck on the left circle, and he struck high shelf for the 1-0 lead lower than 4 minutes into the body. Braintree began to pepper Amato once more because the interval went on, however highlight-reel stickwork from TJ Martin arrange his insurance coverage aim from the fitting circle with 3:21 left within the body to go up 2-0.
Another aim from Ryan Valeri a pair minutes into the third was large as nicely, constructing a 3-0 lead earlier than Braintree uncorked a barrage of pictures on Amato the remainder of the way in which. Jack McDonough’s tip-in simply as Norwood killed a penalty lower the deficit to 3-1, however Amato saved the opposite 16 pictures the Wamps bought on him within the interval.
“Our goalie played real well today,” Allen mentioned. “We had two nice goals, and scoring that third goal was a huge thing going up three.”
The suspenseful motion was the second of two Brinn semifinals on the day at Rodman Arena, as fourth-seeded Belmont (7-8-1) broke up a small skid to energy previous eighth-seeded Walpole, 4-0.
Adam Bauer had two objectives and an help to guide the assault, whereas youthful brother Ethan Bauer withstood a number of high-quality bids in a 22-save shutout.
“We knew that we had to come with our A-game, we knew we had to grind. We knew we had to play fast, physical and get pucks to the net,” mentioned Marauders head coach Tim Foley. “We accomplished it in the second and third period, mostly. … (Getting to the final) was our goal.”
Play was far more even than the ultimate rating suggests, as groups traded alternatives the entire manner in a 26-22 Belmont shot benefit. But whereas Walpole couldn’t appear to get that closing execution after they arrange a high-percentage scoring play, the Marauders did.
The forecheck helped Adam Bauer accumulate a puck above the left circle early within the first, which he fired for a 1-0 lead 4:01 in. Walpole whiffed on a one-timer within the slot in response, after which Ethan Bauer stoned one other one-timer from the identical spot shortly after.
Teams traded fruitless probabilities up till 6:34 remained within the second, when Leo Packard went bar-down from inside the fitting circle off feed from Sean Noone on the proper wall. Three minutes later, Belmont took a 3-0 lead on Adam Bauer’s second aim.
“We’re coming together as a team at the right time,” Adam Bauer mentioned. “Got commitment from all three lines, and obviously put the puck in the net, which is nice.”
His brother wouldn’t enable something previous him the remainder of the way in which with a seven-save third interval, and Adam Bauer helped arrange yet another aim for good measure – feeding David Kioumejian from under the aim line early within the closing body.
Being capable of have such a big effect on reaching the ultimate together with his youthful brother was significant.
“It’s awesome, I’m proud of him,” he mentioned. “Nothing better than playing with my brother, it’s awesome.”
Source: www.bostonherald.com