Prepping for the playoffs, Xaverian, Marshfield stage entertaining 5-5 tie
CANTON >> In a matchup of top Division 1 boys hockey teams, No. 10 Marshfield and No. 3 Xaverian skated to a 5-5 tie.
It was the final regular season matchup for each team, and it was senior night for Xaverian. Head coach Dave Spinale said the opportunity to play a quality opponent like Marshfield was important for his team prior to the state tournament.
“We love playing them in the last game of the year,” Spinale said. “It’s a great little rivalry we have and it’s by design to get us battle tested. Hopefully we don’t see them until later.”
The first period featured one goal from each side, with the two happening within a minute of each other. The Rams killed off a penalty and grasped momentum, eventually breaking through when Michael Bekerian hit Stephen Faria with a breakout pass and the senior forward deked out Hawks goaltender Cole Pouliot-Porter to put Marshfield up 1-0.
Just moments later, sophomore Ryan Bello picked up a rebound in the slot and evened the score at one.
It wouldn’t take long to break the tie in the second period. Cam McGettrick fired home a rebound after a Teddy Devoe shot to put Marshfield up 2-1 just 40 seconds into the frame. Marshfield would then kill a penalty before getting its first man advantage. The Rams delivered, Jack Doherty scoring off a crosscrease pass from McGettrick to increase the lead to two goals.
Moments later, Stephen Faria dished the puck to Sammy Holte, and the junior hit the top corner on a backhand shot to make it 4-1. Xaverian would call a timeout at this point as all momentum was with the Rams. Senior Joe Vanara would relieve Porter in the net.
“I’m happy I did all I could coming in a little dry there,” Vanara said. “I thought I did the best I could to put a wall up for the team.”
Shortly after the timeout, Xaverian forced a turnover in the slot and sophomore Joe Von Handorf capitalized to cut the deficit to 4-2. Marshfield would then take two penalties, giving the Hawks a 5-on-3 advantage, and Jack Fitzpatrick would score on that chance, making the score 4-3.
This would hold until the third period. In the final frame, Marshfield would take another penalty but Doherty sprung free on the kill and fired home a fifth Rams goal.
“I was trying to catch the goalie off guard,” Doherty said. “They probably thought I was going to chip it in and chase, but I tried to get a quick shot off and give our team a lead.”
Moments later, Fitzpatrick would net his second to cut the lead to 5-4 and Jack O’Neill would tie it with just over a minute remaining.
This would lead to a competitive overtime that saw Xaverian get more chances but the Rams had some solid opportunities. Murphy and Vanara were up to the task.
“Our compete level was very good,” Marshfield head coach Dan Connolly said. “We worked real hard. They are one of the best teams in the state and we went toeto-toe with them for 59 minutes.”