FILE PHOTO
Travis Ryan scored Lynn’s only goal Sunday as the Jets were ousted by Latin Academy in the MIAA Division 3 hockey tournament.
By GORDON VINCENT
STONEHAM — Sometimes it’s almost better to lose decisively than have your season end on a fluky goal off a bad bounce in sudden death overtime.
Latin Academy defeated the Lynn Jets, 5-1, in the Division 3 North boys hockey quarterfinal on Sunday at Stoneham Arena, in a game the third-seeded Dragons (14-2-5) controlled pretty much from box-to-wire. Ryan Lonergan and John Connolly each had a goal and two assists for Latin Academy.
Travis Ryan had the only goal for the sixth-seeded Jets (12-7-3), with assists from Mike Clougherty and Owen Downey.
“It’s never easy when your season ends, but we knew going in they were a good team,” said Lynn coach Joe Conlon, whose Jets lost to the Dragons and tied them in their two regular season meetings. “They have some good forwards who can bury the puck when they have opportunities.”
The decisive moment of the game came late in the second period. With the Dragons holding a 3-1 lead, the Jets had a power play and a chance to get back into the game. Instead, Latin Academy killed off the penalty and less than 30 seconds later got a goal from Connolly with just 46 seconds remaining in the period.
“Yeah, we get two or three good shots on the power play and don’t score, and then they get that fourth goal just before the end of the period,” Conlon said. “It was a big change of momentum.”
Joey McAdams put the Dragons ahead with a goal 4:11 into the first period, finishing off pass from Longeran on a rush down the right wing. The Jets answered a mere 65 seconds later, though, when Ryan beat Latin Academy goaltender Brendan Mannion with a low shot from the slot.
The Dragons got what proved to be the winning goal later in the first period. Connolly won a faceoff at the left dot and the puck ended up on the stick of Nolan Rooney, who shoveled a backhander past Lynn goalie Jack Stafford.
Latin Academy went ahead, 3-1, when Lonergan scored 6:23 into the second period, beating Stafford short side with a shot from below the left circle.
Lynn had a goal by Kevin Morgan nullified early in the third period, and seldom threatened again. With a Latin Academy player in the penalty box, Conlon pulled Stafford with 2:30 left to give the Jets a 6-on-4 advantage, but Donovan Lamonia iced the game for the Dragons with 1:07 remaining when he scored a shorthanded, empty net goal from deep in his own defensive zone.
