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Russel's goal give Andover tie with Waltham

Saturday, January, 31 By David Willis
Staff writer

LAWRENCE — After two periods, Andover had already fired 28 shots on net without a goal to show for it. But Riki Retelle and Paul Russell would not be blanked.

“I was in front of the net like I had been the whole game,” said Russell. “I was trying to screen the goalie and I saw the shot and a loose puck and put it home. It was pretty exciting.”

Defenseman Retelle fired a shot from the point that was stopped. But Russell hauled in the loose puck and beat the goalie at 11:50 of the third to give Andover, unranked in Eastern Mass., a 1-1 tie with Waltham, the No. 4 team in Eastern Mass., in a battle of two of the top teams in the Merrimack Valley Conference/Dual County League Division 1. Waltham was the No. 8 seed in the Super 8 a season ago.

“We seemed to be getting a lot of rebounds,” said Retelle. “So I threw the puck on net and Russell put it in. It was good to capitalize on one. When our forwards are crashing the net, goals seem to fall for us. It was a good tie against a league rival.”

Andover (9-3-1, 7-2-1 MVC/DCL Division 1) improved to 3-0-1 in their last four games, and have just once loss in its last eight. The Golden Warriors fell to Waltham (9-1-4, 6-1-4 MVC/DCL Division 1) in their previous meeting of the season, 5-2. The two teams trail just Central Catholic in the division.

“The two of us and Central Catholic are all jumbled at the top of the league,” said Andover coach Mario Martiniello. “This showed again there are no easy wins in this league. Anyone can lose.”

Just a sophomore, Russell now has 10 goals for the season, good for a tie for seventh in the area. Eight of those goals have come in the last seven games. George Flanagan also picked up an assist on the goal, his 29th point.

Andover controlled the pace of play for much of the first two frames, recording 14 shots on goal in each of the first two periods. However, they continued to be turned away by Waltham netminder George Tedford. The Hawks took the lead in the second, setting up Retelle and Russell’s game-tier in the third.

“We had been working a lot on that play,” said Martiniello. “A lot of teams have been taking away our down low play (in front of the net) because we have a lot of speed and come from the corners well. We weren’t kicking it out to the point much. But today we got a lot of shots from the point, and Riki has been incredible.”

Kyle Berthiaume once again stood out in net for Andover. The sophomore made 21 saves, giving him a 3-0-1 record in his last four starts. His save of the game came late, knocking a shot away with his right leg pad as Waltham attacked on the power play.

“We wanted to prove that we could play with the best,” said Russell. “We wanted a win, but I think we shows we can play with anyone in the state. Now just have to beat Central (Feb. 14).”