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Andover head coach Mario Martiniello has noticed the looks on the faces of his players when assistant coach Scott Lachance speaks up.

"They really look up to him," said Martiniello. "You can tell when he has something to say, everyone has their ears opened. They know he has been there and done that before." No one can question Lachance knows his hockey. After all, the 35-year-old played 14 seasons in the National Hockey League, as well as representing the United States in the Olympics.

SALEM, N.H. | As the final seconds ticked off the clock, Salem's Robbie Liberatore looked up at the impressive crowd that filled the Salem Icenter and absorbed the moment.

"It was really different playing in front of a crowd like this," said the Blue netminder. "I have never played in front of a crowd this big."

Through much of the game, Andover struggled to even generate good offensive chances. But Riki Retelle's rocket slap shot on a late power play eased the Golden Warriors' tensions.

Retelle's seeing-eye point shot beat Pinkerton netminder J.J. Solloway (21 saves) at 6:44 of the third period and the Golden Warriors eked out a 2-1 win over the Astros in the second round of the Salem Blue Devil Holiday Classic.

If Andover forward George Flanagan was having any lingering trouble blending in with his new teammates, it ended during the first period yesterday afternoon.

"We got the puck out of our zone," he remembered. "I took it down ice, used the defender as a shield and put it home." That goal with 4:52 left in the first period broke a scoreless tie and put the Golden Warriors on track for a convincing 4-0 win over Timberlane in the opening round of the eighth annual Blue Devil Holiday Classic.

In what was arguably its toughest test since moving to Division 1, Andover was downed by MVC preseason-favorite Westford Academy, 2-1. Freshman forward Paul Russell netted the lone Warrior goal, and goaltender Nick Drew made 29 saves as Westford outshot Andover 30-29.

2006-07 record: 19-6-1, lost in Division 2 state final

Returning lettermen (13): John Hyslip, Sr., forward; Matt Perry, Sr., forward; C.J. Shea, Sr., forward; Cam Smith, Jr., forward; Alex Patti, Soph., forward; Joe Lamagna, Jr., forward; Evan Mancelli, Sr., forward; Riki Retelle, Jr., defense; Kevin Drew, Sr., defense; Michael Taylor, Sr., defense; Joe Kuta, Soph, defense; Ricky Shanahan, Jr., defense; Nick Drew, Sr., goalie