FRAMINGHAM — Despite dealing with a raucous setting Thursday, the Xaverian boys hockey program had been unfazed as junior Jackson Morse registered a purpose and dished out an help, main the fourth-seeded Hawks to the Div. 1 Final Four with a convincing 5-1 romp of No. 12 Franklin at Loring Arena.
“We’ve been wanting to have a fast start because we’ve been looking at all these other upsets (in the postseason),” mentioned Xaverian coach David Spinale. “We can’t give anybody any life, and it’s all them. They’re coming out, they’re ready to play.”
As the sport started, it felt just like the illustrious Framingham barn may collapse below the roar of the group in attendance, however Franklin (13-9) followers had been rapidly silenced as Ryan Bello sniped his seventh purpose of the season to offer Xaverian (16-4-1) a 1-0 benefit simply 13 seconds in. The Hawks had been removed from completed, as Jackson Morse corralled a move in entrance of the Panthers’ internet moments later, then fired a rocket dwelling from the slot. With 12:07 nonetheless within the first interval, Xaverian led 2-0.
With 5:43 to go within the stanza, senior captain Jesse Peck determined to attempt his personal luck with a shot from the facet of the online. The try skipped via site visitors and settled within the cage for a surprising purpose as Xaverian made it 3-0.
“We started fast,” Peck mentioned. “Our whole thing was to win the first five minutes, and then go from there. That was the most important thing. We won the first five minutes, I think we put up like three goals in 10. That was good. The crowds were wild. Franklin can say whatever they want, and we really can’t. But I think we beat them.”
Tempers would flare within the second interval, however neither faculty was in a position to capitalize on a collection of power-play alternatives. However, Xaverian was nonetheless in a position to decide up an insurance coverage tally with 1:00 to play. Devin Gosciak fed a move into the center of the ice, the place a wide-open Colvin Callahan was camped simply ready to snipe his ninth purpose of the yr.
While Franklin was in a position to get a purpose again within the third interval off a rebound bid from junior Carter Balducci, the Hawks had been merely firing on all cylinders.
After the puck skipped out to the blue line, junior Nate Patch sniped the cage with 3:22 left in regulation to place a cap on issues. Jack Fitzpatrick completed with a pair of assists to assist the Hawks.
After surrendering only one purpose throughout a formidable victory in internet, senior goaltender Cole Pouliot-Porter smiled. The recreation had added that means, dealing with most of the similar athletes he discovered the sport alongside throughout his youth years.
“I think it’s a pretty special game,” Pouliot-Porter mentioned. “I grew up playing hockey with a lot of those guys. For us to secure a ‘w’ like that in such a big game is extremely special. I’ve been emotional on that side as well.”
Xaverian will now be hoping to make historical past with a win within the Final Four. In doing so, the Hawks would clinch a visit to TD Garden for a 3rd straight season below the MIAA’s new playoff format.
However, a frightening opponent stands of their path. Xaverian will now need to deal with a Catholic Conference rival when it faces top-ranked St. John’s Prep within the semifinals.
After receiving a Gatorade bathtub throughout the postgame celebrations, Spinale was already specializing in the following problem at-hand.
“They’ve taken it to us twice (this season),” Spinale mentioned. “We’re really going to have to play our best game, and they play with so much pace. We’re going to have to be better in our own end, put them on their heels. They’re well-coached and a talented group.”
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