Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)
Malvern shuts down West Chester Henderson
Hollingshead collects third shutout
WEST GOSHEN >> It’s been over two weeks since Malvern Prep has had a game, but no one would be able to tell after completely shutting down a lethal West Chester Henderson team, 5-0, in a non-conference game Friday night at Ice Line.
It was a complete game from top to bottom from the Friars (5-0) team, from the offense on back to sophomore goaltender Matthew Hollingshead, who made 14 saves for his third consecutive shutout.
“It was a nice win for the guys against a tough team,” said Malvern assistant coach Dave Defusco. “I know that Henderson team well. They’re very well coached and have a lot of energy. Matt Carreras is a player that I really enjoy watching. Our kids fought really hard.”
Carreras, who is third in the Ches-Mont conference in points (19), was stifled by the Friars, aside from a shot off the crossbar from the senior early in the third period.
“He’s tough,” Defusco said. “You just can’t shut him down completely, but we did as good as you’re going to do.”
But the main story for Malvern Prep was the second and third lines stepping up in the game.
“A kid that got a game puck tonight was Pat Kavanaugh, who just did a great job raising his level. The second and third lines did a fantastic job keeping us in it.”
Even more so, the younger kids on the team also elevated their games in the win.
“We had a lot of young guys step up and our goalie stood on his head,” said Malvern senior forward Brian Rawlins. “It was a pretty good effort all around.”
One of those young kids is Malvern’s goaltender, who turned away everything Henderson (4-3) threw at him.
“Our goalie stepped up to the plate and from there, we were able to build on our offensive game,” said Malvern senior defenseman Michael Churchvara. “It’s amazing (having him in net) — there’s no other way to describe it. Just his poise and the way he reacts under pressure gives confidence to everybody, especially the young kids. It’s unprecedented at his age.”
It was no easy task to shutdown a team boasting the likes of Carreras, senior Eric Beren and junior Jarrett Slear, but Malvern was up for the challenge.
“It’s always fun playing any of the public schools around here, especially Henderson,” Rawlins said. “Over the past couple of years, they’ve been the best team around here.”
Malvern instead came out with a solid attack and balanced scoring, with no player tallying more than one goal.
Two of those — Churchvara and junior Angelo Tedesco — were the first of the season for the players.
“Our coach instills in us, ‘Hey, you’re here to work,’” Churchvara said. “It’s part of the Malvern pride. Just to have that and know that our coach wants us to step up, that we can do that, and the senior leadership on the team really helps that.”
The win keeps the Friars undefeated on the season as they head into a stretch of tough opponents in Unionville and Holy Ghost Prep in the next two weeks.
“The mentality in the locker room right now is just one game at a time,” Rawlins said. “If we stay on that track, one game at a time, we’re just going to play hockey. We have a very emotional team. We’re just trying to keep our emotions in check and focused on the task at hand.” Malvern Prep 5, West Chester Henderson 0