Super 8: Austin Prep stuns St. John’s, 2-1

LOWELL – What happens in January means nothing in March – a point St. John’s Prep coach Kris Hanson made immediately after the top-seeded Eagles’ quarterfinal escape of Central Catholic and surely stressed before last night’s Division 1A semifinal against Austin Prep.Call it foreboding or what you will, Hanson certainly knew that of which he spoke. The Eagles – who handed AP its only loss in January, 5-1 – saw their season end last night at Tsongas Center, 2-1. The power play game-winner, credited to Nolan Vesey with 2:40 left in regulation, was inadvertently knocked past Prep goalie Billy Price by defenseman Brent Murray as he tried to bat the puck away from danger.No. 4 Austin Prep (16-1-6) next meets three-time defending champion Malden Catholic in the 1A title game Sunday night at TD Garden (6 p.m.). The Catholic Conference champion Eagles finished 19-3-1 due in large measure to the play of Austin’s diminutive sophomore goalie Elijah Harris (28 saves). The Cougars were also generally effective taking time and space away from St. John’s.”I thought we played pretty good, not our best but well enough to win. We’ve had trouble all year converting chances and tonight that came back to bite us,” said Hanson. “What is most frustrating was the opportunities we had but not doing enough to capitalize on them.””That was big-time effort from my boys. I’m proud of them. St. John’s is a tremendous hockey team and to beat them is quite an accomplishment,” commented Austin Prep coach Lou Finocchiaro. “Elijah (Harris) doesn’t get rattled and doesn’t get frustrated. Nothing bothers him.”While the Eagles owned a 9-5 shot advantage in a scoreless first period, Austin generated the more dangerous bids. At 4:22, Price (18 saves) gobbled up a doorstep shorthanded attempt by the Cougars’ Sean Pickens. Then, with 3:09 left in the period, Price stood tall with a shoulder save on Nolan Vesey’s snap shot from the left circle.AP’s Harris kept it scoreless with 57 seconds left in the period, coming well off his line to deny a 20-footer by Brian Pinho, who worked himself clear by sifting left to right between the circles.St. John’s came within inches of grabbing the lead at 1:16 of the second period but James Currier’s shot rang off the post to Harris’ left. Harris got a pad on and then covered Pinho’s testing backhander from the slot at 4:51 and Price matched that a minute or so later, steering aside Andrew Cross’ wrist shot from the mid slot.The Cougars took a 1-0 lead with 5:48 left in the period. After Eric MacAdams’ shot from the left side was blocked, Cam Russo collected the loose puck and shuttled a pass to Vesey for a right side deposit.Harris closed the period by denying, in order, Cam Shaheen bearing down from the right side at 10:35; Conor Murray’s partially screened shot from the right circle at 11:27; and Tyler Bird’s 2-on-1 shorthanded bid with 11.6 seconds left in the period.St. John’s finally pulled even with 8:14 left in regulation. Seconds after Harris stoned both Pinho’s initial shot and Bird’s follow-up, Bird found himself free in the low slot for a turnaround stuff into the right side, assisted by Jack McCarthy and Brian Uva.The teams seemed destined for OT but a late power play and puck luck favored Vesey and the Cougars as St. John’s found itself eliminated in the semifinals for the second consecutive season.Malden Catholic 4, Catholic Memorial 3The two-time defending 1A champion Lancers advanced to their third straight championship game with their 10th consecutive win, sparked by a hat trick from torrid sophomore Ara Nazarian. Senior Mike Iovanna scored the game-winner with 2:52 to play, banking in an odd-angle backhander from the goal line to the left of the goal just 1:24 after CM’s Liam Coughlin had tied it, 3-3, with a magnificent individual effort.Tyler Sifferlin staked MC to a 1-0 lead on the power play just 1:52 into the game. CM’s John Maher countered at 4:08 but Nazarian scored his fourth shorthanded goal of the postseas