Early goals enough
Hingham, BC High win in Super Eight
H.S. HOCKEY
It didn’t take much offense, but Hingham is moving on in the Super Eight.
Fourth-seeded Hingham scored the lone goal early in the first period, and it was just enough to take down top-seeded Central Catholic, 1-0, in the winner’s bracket yesterday at Tsongas Arena in Lowell.
“We scored enough goals,” said Hingham coach Tony Messina. “You can’t expect to shut (Central Catholic) out. We are just really happy the way in turned out.”
Hingham (14-4-6) got on the board when senior Jake Quilty scored on a backhander right in front of the crease off a pass from junior Jake Higgins just 3:19 into the first period.
Quilty helped out in the second with two huge hits, but Central Catholic (22-20) took nine shots to just five for the Harbormen in the first. Senior Robbie Kornack notched 18 saves for Hingham during the first two periods, aided by a strong defensive effort.
“Unbelievable,” Kornack said of the help in front of him. “We gave them one or two chances. Shout out to the (defense) for allowing that. They are unbelievable, and I love them.”
Kornack (30 saves) made stop after stop in his ninth shutout of the season, including five on a Central Catholic power play midway through the second and five more in the final 30 seconds of the third.
“(Kornack) made some great saves and some key saves at some key times,” Messina said. “He’s been doing it all year.”
Hingham will face BC High on Saturday night (8) at Chelmsford Forum. Central Catholic will play an elimination game against Pope Francis tomorrow (weather-permitting) at Chelmsford Forum.
In the nightcap at Tsongas, second-seeded BC High scored on its first shot of the game and survived a tough challenge in a 1-0 victory against third-seeded St. John’s Prep.
BC High (17-4-1) continues in the winner’s bracket against Hingham, while the Prep (14-4-4) plays St. John’s (Shrewsbury) tomorrow.
“It’s never really a highscoring game between us, but scoring one early, I was hoping we would get one or two more,” BC High coach John Flaherty said.
St. John’s Prep junior goalie Cam Ludwig (25 saves) had other ideas, stoning BC High the rest of the way, including four shots that hit the post.
With the fans still filing into Tsongas, BC High got the only goal it needed off a turnover when Joe Dragon beat Ludwig in close just 2:45 into the contest. Danny O’Connell and Owen Catlow picked up assists on the play.
The Prep managed just four shots in the opening period and was out-shot 2617 overall. BC High goaltender Luke Garrity stopped all 17 shots for the shutout.
“I think a lot of that had to do with our opponent,” said Prep coach Kristian Hanson, who split a pair of regular-season meetings against BC High. “In my opinion, they are the best team in the state, and I have been saying that all year.”
Prep found its legs in the last two periods and had a golden opportunity to force overtime in the final seconds after BC High hit the post on an empty net. Prep’s Brian Carrabes rushed endto-end, but he could not finish for the equalizer.
“You hit the post on an empty-net goal, and their best guy takes the puck up the ice, and now you’re holding onto your breath,” Flaherty said. “I was looking for the defibrillator.”
Added Garrity: “They have some fast guys, but our defense stood up, and they let me see the puck.”
In the Division 3 South quarterfinals, Will Abbott, Andrew Gilbert, D.J. Sloan and Steve Simoes all scored in the third period as No. 2 Hopkinton (19-2-1) pulled away from No. 10 Dartmouth, 7-2. Sean Walsh, Owen Delaney and Tommy Hambet also scored for the Hillers . . . . Tyler Martin and Zach Taylor scored as No. 1 Hanover (21-0-1) held off eighth-seeded Bishop Stang, 2-1.