Wed, Feb 28, 2018
05:30 PM @
Hingham
| Team |
1 |
2 |
3 |
OT |
Final |
| Andover |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
| Hingham |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
Andover hockey falls in Super 8 opener
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Wednesday, February, 28
By David Willis
Staff writer
LOWELL — With the game on the line in the opening minute of overtime, Cole Chingris turned in yet another brilliant save. The Andover goalie stretched his left leg as far as he would go, kicking the puck away from the net and keeping his team alive.
But No. 4 Hingham was able to regain possession, worked it around and scored 0:55 into overtime to beat the No. 5 Golden Warriors 2-1 in the first round of the Super 8 tournament.
“I thought we started off slow, then made some changes in the second period that allowed us to climb back in,” said Andover coach Chris Kuchar. “We showed tonight that we can play with any team in Massachusetts. We just didn’t get the breaks.”
The Golden Warriors (13-6-2) now move into the Super 8 losers bracket. They will next face the loser of No. 1 Central Catholic and No. 8 St. John’s Shrewsbury, who play on Thursday at the Tsongas Center (7:30 p.m.)
Andover and the loser will face off on Sunday at the Chelmsford Forum in Billerica (time TBA). The loser of that game will be eliminated from the tournament.
“We will come to practice on Thursday and we’re going to work hard,” said Kuchar. “And we will prepare for our next opponent. If we come out and play better early on Sunday I think we have a good shot. But it’s do-or-die on Sunday.”
Playing in the first Super 8 game in program history, Andover came out slow, and fell behind 1-0 after one period.
After that first goal, however, Warriors goalie Chingris (37 saves) began to take over the game.
The netminder turned in a huge glove save midway through the second. Then, in the final moments of the period, he stopped a puck in traffic that looked destined for the goal.
“Cole was outstanding,” said Kuchar. “He played so well. He has done that all year. He put us in position to make the Super 8, and he delivered again.”
Andover finally broke through 2:26 into the third. Freshman Shane Lachance took a pass and fired a shot that just dribbled through the pads of the Hingham goalie to make it 1-1. Assists went to Jack Keeler and Steve Ingram.
“That whole line played great,” said Kuchar. “They were out for a long stretch in the second and really swung momentum. They earned their shifts and did it again tonight.”
From there, Chingris continued to shine. After going to his stomach to make one save, he was able to reach up with his glove to make a highlight-reel stop. Then with 6:23 left in regulation, he reached back with his glove to block a backhand.
“We couldn’t get to the front of the net like we wanted to because of Andover’s defense,” said Hingham coach Tony Messina. “They are a great team with a great goalie. They are very hard to score on. We are happy to get out of there with a win.”
After a few more huge stops by Chingris, Hingham was able to break through less than a minute into overtime. The Harbormen will next play the winner of Central Catholic and St. John’s Shrewsbury on Monday.
“I’m proud of our effort,” said Kuchar. “That’s a big, strong Hingham team there that put us on our heels a little bit. We have to perform now, because the loser goes home starting Sunday. And we are going to do our best to keep playing.”
Game Statistics:
Super-8 First Round
Goals: A — Shane Lachance; H — Tommy
Kornack, Frankie Higgins
Assists: A — Jack Keeler, Steve Ingram; H — Jake Higgins, Will Kenney
Saves: A — Cole Chingris 37; H — Robbie Kornack 29
