RallyNorth.net

Andover falls in North semifinals

Thursday, March, 05 By David Willis
Staff writer

BILLERICA — The disappointment was clear on the face of Andover coach Chris Kuchar as he led his team into the locker room for the final time. But the first-year head man chose to look on the positive.

“We’re upset with the loss, no question,” said Kuchar. “We weren’t ready for the season to end. We wanted to play a few more rounds. But being here really was quite an accomplishment for these kids. No one other than this team thought we could make it this far.”

One season after winning just five games and missing the state tournament, Andover boys hockey took the ice for the Division 1 North semifinals, the its deepest postseason run since moving to Division in 1 in the 2007-08 season and the culmination of a turnaround season.

Unfortunately for No. 4 Andover, it could do little against a red-hot Arlington Catholic squad, as the No. 8 Cougars advanced to the Division 1 North final with a 3-0 victory over the Golden Warriors last night at the Chelmsford Forum.

“We ran into a very good team,” Kuchar said of Arlington Catholic, which upset top seed Burlington in the North quarterfinals. “We knew that we had to play a flawless game to beat them. We had a couple breakdowns and they took advantage. Our kids played their hearts out, but that is one big, strong hockey team.”

Arlington Catholic used its speed and size advantage to hold the puck in the Andover zone for nearly the entire night, firing 33 shots on Golden Warrior netminder Nick Scarpa.

Scarpa held Andover in the game throughout the fierce attack. The senior made 10 saves in the first and 16 in the second period, allowing a single goal in each.

“Nick has just been outstanding for us,” said Kuchar. “He has carried us all season. He has been the best player in the MVC all season. But also seniors like (Zach) Walker and Conor (Silk) also did an amazing job bringing us here.”

It was Walker that nearly tied the game late in the first, taking the puck in on a 1-on-1 and firing a shot that looked destined for the goal. But Cougars goalie Dylan Morris turned him away.

The Warriors’ next best chance came with just over seven minutes left in the game, when Kuchar pulled Scarpa on a powerplay for the 6-on-4 advantage. But once again Andover could not crack Morris.

Arlington Catholic went ahead with 5:12 left in the first, then added to the advantage 1:39 into the second on a goal assisted by Methuen’s Ryan Tierney.

“They were very good on defense,” said Kuchar. “We really couldn’t generate many chances on offense. But they fought.”

The Warriors finished the season with a 11-5-6 record, one season after going 5-12-3 and missing the postseason.

“It is very bittersweet that it ended here,” said Kuchar. “But I am so proud because these kids defied expectations and worked so hard to be successful.”