Hingham hangs loss on Xaverian
H.S. LACROSSE
The first two rounds of the postseason offered little resistant for Hingham in its new trek through the Division 1 state tournament.
But last night’s South semifinal matchup against No. 5 Xaverian presented a stiffer challenge for the top-seeded Harbormen.
After trailing by two after one quarter, Hingham responded with its defense clamping down on the Hawks’ multi-dimensional offense to prevail, 10-4.
Hingham (22-1) now has a chance to win its fifth straight South title — the last four came in Div. 2 — when it faces BC High Friday.
“We’re playing as long as we can, as hard as we can,” said Hingham senior captain Frankie Higgins. “Doesn’t matter who we’re playing, what division, where we are, what time, we’re just doing our job to live another day.”
A goal by Dylan Gardner put Xaverian (16-5) up 3-1 after the opening frame before Hingham seized control with a dominant second quarter.
The Harbormen scored four unanswered goals in the stanza with Higgins starting it with a tally off a turnover.
Ryan Hill then made a terrific pass from behind the net to set up Sam Ward (three goals, two assists) for a goal before Hill assisted on a tally by Cooper Dainton and Jake Quility scored for a 5-3 halftime lead.
Xaverian scored just once over the final 38 minutes before Hingham’s defense shut the door for good and the Harbormen pulled away with five straight tallies.
“(The defense) was the difference,” said Hingham coach John Todd. “We knew they were an attack oriented team and our defense stood to the task.”
In the Div.1 North semifinals, Victor Otero’s goal in the final minute of overtime gave No. 3 Acton-Boxboro (14-7) a 7-6 win over DCL rival Lincoln-Sudbury, snapping the Warriors’ three-year reign as state champs . . . . Greyson Mitchell had three goals and five assists, while Alex Trottier and Sager Morris each recorded hat tricks as No. 8 Andover (13-8) knocked off No. 4 Chelmsford, 14-7, in a Div. 1 North semifinal.
Jack Stanton’s hat trick helped No. 4 Reading (13-7) bounce top-seed Melrose, 116, in a Div. 2 North semifinal.
Nick Champani and Jaiden Gaudet scored three goals apiece to lift No. 1 Falmouth (18-4) past fifth-seed Oliver Ames, 11-7, in a Div. 2 South semifinal.
Ty Studley and Albert Di Bella combined to score the final three goals as No. 6 Norwell (12-9) defeated No. 2 Nantucket, 10-7, in a Div. 3 South semifinal . ... Ryan Donovan, Noah Froio, Jake Sullivan and Will Thomas all registered hat tricks as No. 1 Cohasset (14-6) rolled to a 17-1 win over No. 5 Bishop Stang.
Robert Doherty’s goal in triple overtime gave No. 5 Concord-Carlisle (16-5) a wild 11-10 win over top-seeded Wayland in a Div. 2 Central/ East semifinal . ... Connor Deehan’s goal in the second overtime propeled No. 2 Westwood (16-4) past thirdseeded Walpole, 9-8.
Girls
Hannah Gohr scored five goals as No. 6 Reading (17-4) beat No. 2 Marblehead, 9-7, in a Div. 1 North semifinal.
Drew Charlton tallied nine goals as No. 2 Manchester Essex (16-3) defeated thirdseeded Ipswich, 19-12, in a Div. 2 North semifinal . ... Mary Rose Kearney scored five times as No. 1 Newburyport (22-0) rolled to a 19-3 win over No. 5 Swampscott.
Maddie Balter scored four goals as No. 2 Wellesley (203) coasted to a 14-3 win over No. 6 Old Rochester in a Div. 1 South semifinal.