LOWELL?Coming into Wednesday evening?s MIAA Division 1A boys? hockey state semifinal, one couldn?t help but look at Springfield Cathedral?s season, featuring a 22-0-2 record and two skaters with more than 60 points each and simply say, ?Wow.?
Among those who had done so was St. John?s Prep coach Kristian Hanson who still couldn?t think of a better word following the No. 5 Eagles? 4-3 overtime victory over top-seeded Cathedral on Wednesday at Tsongas Center.
St. John?s will face Malden Catholic on Sunday at 7:45 p.m. at TD Garden in the finals. The Lancers defeated Austin Prep, 6-3, in the other semifinal.
?How do you sum up that one? It?s kind of difficult,” said Hanson, whose team stormed the ice following Jeff Cowles? game-winning goal just 1:12 into the extra session.
?We might lose to (Cathedral) nine times out of 10 but the kids gave a great effort tonight and got the win. That?s all that matters.”
The Prep came out as the aggressors in overtime, sending three quick shots toward Cathedral?s Keith Petruzzelli, including the clincher from Cowles, who finished off a great feed from fellow junior Mitch Shaheen at the top of the crease.
?I didn?t really give them any great words of wisdom,” said Hanson of the team?s huddle before the start of overtime. “In my experiences, I?ve learned that there is no bad shot in overtime. So, all I told the guys was that if there was a chance to shoot, take it.”
Leading 3-2 with under a minute to play and the Panthers? net empty, it looked like the Eagles would prevail in regulation until a whacky sequence netted the equalizer.
Ten seconds after Petruzzelli (26 saves) reached the bench, Cathedral gained possession in the offensive zone, leading to an attempted shot from high in the slot by Johnny Leonard.
With heavy traffic in front of Kyle Martin, who had 33 saves, the bid was blocked right back to Leonard whose second attempt beat the junior netminder. Martin — along with just about everyone else in the building — appeared to think the puck had deflected overhead.
The teams exchanged two goals apiece in a wild second period.
With Cathedral on its first powerplay via a tripping call on junior Brian Groom, the Prep was able to extend its lead while playing shorthanded.
A Panthers turnover in the neutral zone preceded a clean break from senior Tyler Scearbo, who snapped off a shot from between the hashmarks, beating Petruzzelli inside the left post.
Cathedral salvaged the man advantage with a tally of its own from Bryce Peritz 20 seconds later, on helpers from Cam Peritz and Matt Cieboter.
The Panthers? special teams struck again at the 6:37 mark with senior Nick Latham off for tripping. Seventeen seconds later, Leonard ripped a laser from the high slot with assists from Dan Petrick and Peter Crinella.
Before the period was out however, the Eagles took back the lead on a tally from junior Josh Cole whose shot from the point found its way through net-front traffic. Cowles and senior Jack Montesanto were credited with helpers.
A misleading first period saw the Prep grab a 1-0 lead with 2:04 remaining, despite being outplayed for the majority of the 15 minutes.Moments after a pair of big saves from Martin in the Eagles? end, Shaheen raced down the right side before sending a perfect pass to junior Sam Stone who buried the chance.
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