SPRINGFIELD – Oops, they did it again.
For the second straight year, the Shrewsbury High School boys ice hockey team blocked Westfield’s path to a statement win.
Central Mass representative Shrewsbury received goals from a pair of brothers, and held off three-time Western Mass champ Westfield 2-1 in a Division 3 state semifinal Wednesday night at the MassMutual Center.
Anthony Quinlivan opened the door for a Shrewsbury repeat with a first period goal in the rematch, and his brother, Liam, closed it shut on Westfield with a third period score.
“They were stronger last year; we are better this year,” Westfield coach C.B. “Moose” Matthews said. “We came out strong, but the puck just couldn’t bounce for us.”
They say hockey is a game of inches and that is more than evident here as Westfield’s Alex Beauchemin almost puts another goal on the board with this shot that rings off the crossbar during the Division 3 state semifinals Wednesday night at MassMutual Center in Springfield. (Photo by Bill Deren)
Westfield wasted little time in netting an early lead with senior forward Connor Cottengim winning the opening faceoff and skating in untouched on a breakaway six seconds into the game.
“That scares me,” coach Matthews said. “It was almost like a bad omen, but that goal kept us there right up until the end.”
Westfield caught a lucky break a short time later when the equalizer from Shrewsbury was waved off for goalie interference. Colonials junior forward Tyler Borys flipped the puck from in close in traffic at the 5:24 mark, but the goal was nullified.
It would not deter Shrewsbury though.
Shrewsbury took advantage of a Westfield penalty late in the period though, scoring on a power play when senior forward Anthony Quinlivan snapped in a shot from the top of the circle with 48 seconds left in the period.
Senior defenseman Conall Persichino and Borys assisted.
The tide began to turn though late in the first period, and it continued on into the second.
Early on, Westfield had a 7-2 advantage in shots on goal. Shrewsbury clamped down though, holding the Bombers to two shots for nearly a 22-minute span.
Then, with 2:55 left in the middle frame, senior forward Liam Quinlivan collected the second of two rebounds from inside the left circle and in one swift motion turned around and launched it into the net for a 2-1 lead.
Westfield continued to battle back.
With 2:50 left in the game, Westfield senior forward Max Maggipinto launched a shot at Shrewsbury senior goalie Patrick Shaugnessy. Shaughnessy (16 saves) and the Colonials turned the Bombers away.
Westfield pulled its goalie twice in the final 90 seconds, but Shrewsbury held strong.
“They had a great postseason, especially going into the Western Mass finals,” coach Matthews said of his championship squad. “They lost to Longmeadow twice, but came out and beat them in overtime. They’re still Western Mass champs. Our seniors were a great bunch. From sophomore year on, they’ve gotten better and better – every single one of them.”
Westfield senior goalie Cam Parent finished with 18 saves.
