BRIGHTON — Freshman goalie Anthony Palmer was within the zone proper from the opening faceoff, however not even his sensational effort for St. Mary’s of Lynn might stop Catholic Memorial from shifting on within the Div. 1 state event.
With overwhelming management throughout all three sections of the ice Sunday afternoon at Warrior Ice Arena, the second-seeded Knights (19-2-1) strong-armed their means again to the state quarterfinals as a part of a 3-0 win in a second-round tilt. Morgan Lenehan’s power-play objective one way or the other stood because the lone rating for Catholic Memorial inside a 22-shot first interval, however that’s all it could actually need after squelching any Spartans (13-7-3) try to generate offense.
Brendan MacNeil and RJ Donahue nonetheless discovered the again of the web because the Knights bombarded Palmer (36 saves) all through, and the protection can maintain their heads excessive after permitting simply six pictures on goalie Owen Watson within the shutout.
Catholic Memorial will get No. 7 Xaverian subsequent for the third matchup this yr between the convention foes.
“We’re taking care of business one game at a time,” mentioned CM coach Larry Rooney. “That was the best team win we’ve had all year. … These kids are feeling really good about themselves right now, and I told them they should enjoy that. They’ve worked hard.”
As the forecheck dominated St. Mary’s early and sometimes, Palmer stood on his head regardless of a bevy of high-quality bids from CM within the opening 9 minutes. Twice he deflected pictures from down the intestine up over the web, and two fast pictures on a 2-on-1 had been stopped by his pads and the glove. One wrap-around bid was even denied with a dive to the again submit.
Restless physique language grew seen for some Knights, however they lastly jumped forward on the sport’s first energy play with 5:15 left within the first interval. Mike Corbett gathered the puck out of the faceoff, and his shot from the purpose made it previous Palmer’s outstretched leg to Lenehan on the far submit for a tap-in objective.
Rooney knew rigidity was tempered for his gamers as they caught to the sport plan and received steady pictures on internet.
It nonetheless felt relieving to get the primary one in, although.
“It was so amazing, it was a great feeling,” Corbett mentioned. “Especially after the saves (Palmer) was making, he was really good, he was giving us hell. … We just had eyes on the prize, we were ready.”
MacNeil’s breakaway objective early within the second interval made for good insurance coverage and Donahue’s artful objective within the waning minutes of the third sweetened the victory, however neither had been crucial with how dominantly CM restricted the Spartans.
If it wasn’t the forecheck conserving the strain on, the backcheck rapidly defused any rush earlier than it developed out of the St. Mary’s defensive zone. Corbett, Finn Burke, Donahue, Anthony Pellitteri and Austin Kelly all stood out with disruptive performs on the blue line too, making Watson’s quest for a shutout slightly simple.
“We had good, active sticks, we used our points well (on the forecheck),” Rooney mentioned. “Any time they got to clear it out to the neutral zone, we just kept putting it back there and they’re tired at that point. … That was the game plan, to keep the puck behind them and not try to play an individual game, but a team game.”
St. Mary’s regarded extra comfy as the sport went on, permitting 17 pictures on internet over the ultimate two intervals after 22 within the first. Three pictures on internet of their very own within the third had been promising, however Watson absorbed all of them within the win.
“It’s great momentum going into Xaverian Wednesday,” Corbett mentioned. “We know that they’re going to be a tough opponent.”
Source: www.bostonherald.com