RallyNorth.net

Central Catholic heads to first Super 8 title game

Wednesday, March, 15 By David Willis
Staff writer

LOWELL  — Thomas Manty saw the puck come free, and with the opportunity of a lifetime in his sight, he reacted.

“I just had to dive,” he said. “The puck hit the goalie’s left pad and squirted out. I saw the loose puck, I dove and the next think I knew I was celebrated in the student section.”

Stephen Birch took a slap shot from the point that deflected off Manty and was saved.

But with the puck skidding along the ice, Manty dove head first towards the goal, knocking it past the goalie and into the net 1:35 into overtime, giving Central Catholic a heart-stopping 1-0 victory over Boston College High School in the Super 8 semifinals on Wednesday at the Tsongas Center.

BC High beat Central Catholic 6-0 in their regular season meeting.
“I can’t even explain how amazing this is,” said Birch. “This is the first time in team history we are going to the TD Garden. There are so many things going through my mind right now. It’s crazy. We are just so happy!”
The victory sends Central Catholic to the Super 8 title game on Sunday at the TD Garden (time TBA). The Raiders are the first Eagle-Tribune area team to make the Super 8 final since the tournament was established in 1991.
“Amazing,” said goalie Matt Pasquale. “It’s amazing for the program. We have worked so hard and now we’re here. This is a surreal feeling and it will be even more surreal to play at the Garden.”
Following two even periods, BC High seemed to be taking control of the contest in the third period. The Eagles out-shot the Raiders 14-5 in the period, holding the puck in the zone throughout.
But Pasquale — who has allowed just one garbage time goal in three Super 8 games this winter — stood tall in net, keeping the game scoreless and sending it to overtime.
“Matt was outstanding,” said Central first-year coach Kim Brandvold. “He was on every rebound, he played the puck really well a few times. For a while we were leaking some serious oil and he kept us in it. He was definitely the guy for us tonight.”
Thanks to the stellar play of their sophomore netminder, the Raiders took the game into overtime. And Central struck fast.
With the Raiders on the attack, the puck went into the corner, and after a scrum it found its way onto Birch’s stick. The towering sophomore wound up and fired a shot on goal.
“It slid over to me and I just tried to put it on net,” said Birch. “Luckily Thomas was there and deflected it.
“I was back blocking and didn’t see the shot. Then I saw Thomas screaming and shouting and I just skated right to him and celebrated. Amazing.”
The deflection by Manty was stopped, but his diving second attempt found the back of the net, along with part of his body.
“I think part of me was in the net with the puck,” said Manty with a laugh. “It was surreal. You dream about scoring the overtime game-winner in any big game. Nothing beats it. I dreamt about it, but I didn’t think it would happen.”
Manty, the son of former Central Catholic assistant coach and Andover interim head coach Scott Manty, now has 12 goals for the season, two off Will Winship’s team-high.
“That was a great goal,” said Brandvold. “Manty’s start was a little scruffy and I gave it to him. Then he picked it up and I thought he was great in the second half. Him going to the net in a 4-on-4 overtime is always a good play.”
Pasquale finished the game with 32 saves, including one he had to fall backwards to make sure it was secure.
“He is just amazing every day,” said Birch. “And in this game he was standing on his head. We always know that we can rely on him.”
Central Catholic will now become the first area boys hockey team to play for a state title since Andover High played in the Division 2 North title game 10 years ago.
A win would make the Raiders the first team from the Eagle-Tribune region to win a Massachusetts boys hockey state title.
“It’s really unreal, it really is,” said Manty. “We were confident since Day 1. This is an amazing group of guys. Every day is a great day to go to the rink and nothing beats this.”