Framingham prevails in double overtime
STONEHAM — As the puck bounced into the back of the net all Will Trischitta could let out was a sigh of relief.
After seeing Reading tie the score with less than a second to play in regulation, Framingham rallied as goaltender Jake Handy had 32 saves and Trischitta sent home the game winner with 54.7 seconds left in the second overtime as the Flyers knocked off the Rockets, 3-2, to advance in the Division 1A Super Eight Tournament.
With the win, No. 8 Framingham (15-5-2) advances to take on top-seeded
Arlington. Reading (10-6-6) will be the top seed in the Div. 1 North tournament.
Handy stood on his head throughout the night, but especially in the second overtime period, during which he turned aside eight shots in the lead up to Trischitta’s game winning goal.
“I was just exhausted,” Trischitta said. “I was glad it’s over. It was the end of my shift. We had to rally quickly after (Reading) tied game, but it showed the leadership this team has.”
Clinging to a 2-1 lead with less than 10 seconds remaining, and the puck dribbling toward the blue line, Framingham seemed poised for a regulation victory. The Rockets, however, showed a flair for the dramatic. Matthew Fiorenza scooped up the loose puck and fired one last desperation shot from the left point that was tipped home by Jake Donovan to tie the score, 2-2.
Throughout the two overtime periods, Reading found itself with a myriad of opportunities. With 1:20 left in the first overtime Sean Barbera found himself all alone but Handy turned it aside. Then, to begin the second overtime, Fiorenza had an immediate chance off a face off win but Handy came through with a glove save. Through the first two minutes of the second overtime, Handy had six saves.
“Having Jake (Handy) in net just gives you confidence,” Framingham coach Will Ortiz said. “We were prepared for all situations that we knew could come up. We knew this could be a 45-plus minute game. Its a testament to our coaches and our guys.”
Framingham struck first just over a minute into the game as Thomas Duane tipped home Jared Shimelman’s shot form the right point to give the Flyers a 1-0 lead. The Rockets evened the score early in the second with Shawn Golden breaking away all alone only to beat Handy five-hole to tie the game, 1-1. Duane, however, quickly put Framingham back in front as the sophomore cleaned up a puck in front and finished top right to give the Flyers a 2-1 lead going into the third period.