Marblehead boys hockey wins in a shootout

WATERTOWN – For the second straight game, the Marblehead hockey team had to work extra to try an d advance in the Division 3 North tournament.After squandering a 3-1 lead despite badly outshooting Latin Academy for four periods, the Headers somehow found a way to get the job done in a shootout as Eric Fader, Anders Gundersen and Andrew Bates found the net to give Marblehead the 4-3 win at Ryan Skating Arena.The win might have come with a cost though as Fader was probably lost for the rest of the playoffs when he dislocated an elbow during the post-game pigpile at center ice.”We warned the kids about jumping on the pile and Fader gets hurt,” Marblehead coach Bob Jackson said. “A win is a win and were still playing right now.”The Dragons might have been the No. 13 and last seed in the tournament, but they didn’t play like one as goaltender Mike Newhall stood on his head throughout, stopping 45-of-48 shots in regulation and overtime before the shootout.”They’re a real good team and were feisty,” Jackson said. “We had some opportunities and couldn’t score.”The Headers (12-10-0) had a 3-2 lead entering the third period but Latin refused to go away, pressuring Marblehead goaltender Aaron Reny for the first time all game.The Dragons had only five shots on goal in the first two period, compared to 34 for Marblehead, but came out storming in the third. Reny was called upon to make a boatload of quality stops to preserve the Headers lead.At the other end, Newhall came up with a pair of stops on the doorstep against the Headers to keep Latin alive.But it looked like Marblehead was going to survive as the Dragons pulled Newhall for an extra attacker but couldn’t score. However, with 12.3 seconds left, Brendan Collier slammed home Beau Richmond’s pass from the right wing to force overtime.In the extra session, the Dragons (8-11-2) nearly ended the festivities quickly when Mike Phalan’s shot got behind Reny, who fell on the puck just before it crossed the goal line.At the other end, Newhall came up with a game-saver of his own when he robbed Alex Whitmore and Chris Donahue in the crease to send the teams to a shootout.The shootout, however, would have little drama as Phalan, Marcus Egan and Tim Wilson all came up empty against Reny. At the other end, Fader and Gundersen scored before Bates went 5-hole to put an end to affairs.”Aaron came up big in the shootout and Eric, Anders and Andrew did a great job,” Jackson said.The Headers did everything but put the game away in the first two period. In the first, they outshot Latin 16-3 but trailed 1-0 after Phalan’s drive hit off Reny’s glove and trickled across the goal line at 12:48.Marblehead began the second on the power play after Paul Myers was called for cross-checking at 14:41 of the first. The Headers wasted little time in drawing even when Gundersen unleashed a bullet from the point over Newhall’s shoulder.Bates put the Headers in front at 6:22 when he deflected home Jackson Barber’s shot from the high slot. Seconds later, Chris Donahue gave Marblehead a 3-1 lead when he drilled home a Fader centering pass.But the Dragons roared back into the game three minutes later when Egan scored on a power play, assisted by Phalan and Collier, to make it 3-2 heading to the third.