Westfield’s Chris Sullivan controls a loose puck during the second period of Tuesday night’s game against Agawam at the Olympia in West Springfield. (Photo by Frederick Gore)
WEST SPRINGFIELD – When it comes to Westfield-Agawam high school hockey, it is becoming clearly apparent that the Bombers save the best for last.
Westfield’s Chris Sullivan scored two goals in the final 3:33 of Tuesday’s game against Agawam, including the game-tying goal with just 25.9 ticks remaining, as the Bombers rallied for four unanswered third period goals to post a stunning 4-4 tie at The Olympia Ice Center.
A year ago, Westfield stormed back from a two-goal deficit to defeat Agawam and capture the Western Massachusetts Division 3 championship.
This time around it was a four-goal comeback.
Connor Sullivan got the rally started with a rebound off a Chris Gentile shot 86 seconds into the final period.
With 4:40 remaining in the period, Zachary Jarvis scored on a breakaway to cut the Agawam lead in half.
Westfield’s Connor Sullivan, left, snags control of a loose puck. (Photo by Frederick Gore)
Westfield climbed within one goal just 1:07 later when Mitchell Weiss and Mario Metallo worked the puck into Chris Sullivan in the right circle, and Sullivan scored.
With each Westfield goal, the Bombers crowd reached a deafening roar. The next goal nearly blew the roof off the joint.
Connor Sullivan fed the puck to Chris Sullivan in the crease. Chris Sullivan took a slapshot, firing it past Agawam’s goalie with 25.9 seconds left. The Bomber faithful erupted in celebration.
It was not the prettiest of starts for Westfield.
Joe Mercodante nudged in a rebound for a power play goal with 6:36 remaining in the first period to give Agawam a 1-0 lead. The Brownies led 2-0 with 8:07 left in the middle frame when Elijah Bard picked up a loose puck out in front of the Bombers net and tapped it in.
Agawam surged ahead 3-0 on Cam Rivest’s goal 35 seconds later. With 4:32 left in the period, Seamus Curran powered the puck through the crease. Curran made a diving goal for a 4-0 lead.
After the extended second period break, Westfield regrouped for the four-goal outburst. It was fitting that both teams ended with exactly 26 shots on goal with Bombers’ goalie Garrett Matthews finishing with 22 saves.
