New Haven Register (Sunday) (New Haven, CT)
Notre Dame-WH tops Fairfield Prep in OT
ND-WH
3
FAIRFIELD PREP
2
WEST HAVEN—The Notre Dame-West Haven and Fairfield Prep boys hockey teams, historically two of the elite teams in Connecticut, have experienced some growing pains in the early part of the season.
The Jesuits entered the season having lost 13 players to graduation, while the Green Knights lost eight to graduation and four more who moved on to prep school.
On Saturday, despite the inexperience, both teams provided fans with an exciting finish with a little something for everyone.
John Michael Childs of Hamden scored 1:24 into overtime to lead No. 5 Notre Dame-West Haven to a 3-2 SCC/SWC Division I win over No. 7 Fairfield Prep at Bennett Rink .
Joseph D’Agostino took the initial shot for the Green Knights near the right circle. Fairfield Prep’s Jake Walker made the initial save but then he lost his stick. The rebound came back to Notre Dame’s John D’Errico who sent it toward the net. Walker fell to his knees and made another save, but Childs was in front of the net to get the rebound and one-timed a shot for the game-winning goal.
“We’ve been working very hard in practice and the hard work paid off today,” Childs said. “We fought back, we fought back hard to get this win. It felt great to get that winning goal, to contribute, but everyone on the team contributed in this win.”
The Green Knights improved to 4-3. The Jesuits fell to 2-5.
“We’re a young team and we want them to believe in themselves,” Notre Dame first-year coach Larry Vieira said. “They are vulnerable to the highs and lows of the sport. Getting a win like this, any time you beat Prep, the defending (CIAC Division I) champion, it’s an honor and it helps with the players confidence.
“Our guys are smart, they listen and they take in everything you teach them. During Friday’s practice, for the first time I got a sense we were getting into a rhythm and they were getting a handle on the new system we are teaching them. Between the third period and overtime I just told them to dump the puck and keep it deep in their zone. That’s exactly what they did and it produced the game-winning goal.”
After a scoreless first period, the offense kicked in for both teams starting with a penalty shot.
D’Errico bolted toward the Prep goal on a breakaway. As he skated between the two circles, Prep’s John Carroll caught up to D’Errico and brought him down. But Carroll was called for hooking and D’Errico was awarded a penalty shot. D’Errico deked left and shot into the lower right corner to give Notre Dame a 1-0 lead at 7:25 of the second period.
Colin Bella answered for the Jesuits and scored a power-play goal at 10:08 to tie the game at 1.
Penalties plagued the Jesuits throughout the game and the Green Knights would find themselves with a 5-on-3 man advantage. As a result, Notre Dame regained the lead when Charles Andriole scored a power-play goal at 12:12 to make it 2-1 ND.
The Green Knights held the lead most of the third period. But with Andriole serving a slashing penalty, Bella scored a power-play goal for Prep with 1:18 to go in regulation for the 2-2 tie, sending the game into overtime and setting stage for Childs’ game-winning goal.
“The goalies played well, we just weren’t winning the pucks,” Fairfield Prep coach Matt Sather said. “We aren’t really young, but we lost 13 players from last season and we are inexperienced. We are improving and hopefully we can improve and learn some things from this game.”