RallyNorth.net

Andover battles to OT, but Northeastern commit ends their run

Saturday, March, 05 By David Willis
Staff writer

WOBURN — For more than three periods, Andover boys hockey was every bit the match of a Reading squad that lost just three times in the regular season and made the Super 8 play-in.

Every shot, every save, every crushing hit, the No. 7 seed Golden Warriors and No. 2 Rockets fiercely battled for a trip to the Chelmsford Forum. 

But one moment proved the difference.

A puck bounced off the boards and was sent in front of the net to Northeastern commit Matt Thomson, who just barely lifted it over the left pad of goalie Zach Laramie and into the net with 3:18 left in overtime to give Reading a 2-1 victor over Andover High in the Division 1 North quarterfinals at O'Brien Rink.

"It hurts to lose," said Golden Warriors coach Chris Kuchar. "The kids are hurting. But it wasn't for a lack of effort. We worked from start to finish, and I am very proud of our team."

The victory sends the Rockets (13-2-6) to the Division 1 North semifinal, while Andover finished the season 13-6-3. 

"That is a very, very good Andover team that gave us everything we could handle," said Reading coach Mark Doherty. "Their goalie played an excellent game. It was a great contest."

For more than two periods, Andover was the clear enforcer against Reading, which looked a bit sluggish after falling to Central Catholic in a shootout in the Super 8 play-in game on Monday.

The Golden Warriors dished out a few huge hits to set the tone — the biggest by multi-sport ace Andrew Soucy — and held the puck in the Rockets zone.

Michael Reilly then gave Andover the lead with 6:40 to go in the first. Matt Schuhwerk picked up the puck in the Warriors zone and took it down ice on a breakaway. He skated into the corner before dishing a pass to Caeden Dillman, who slid it to Reilly. The sophomore roofed it over the goalie's blocker and into the net for his 11th goal of the season.

From there, it became a battle between Warriors superstar goaltender Laramie (28 saves), and Reading netminder Sean Dynan. (23 saves).

Despite taking a slap shot to the mask in warmups, and getting hit and appearing shaken up in the second, Laramie was nearly unbeatable. His beat saves were when he went into a split to stop a shot with his left pad, and another when he made a stop then dove to cover a loose puck. But each time, Dynan was there to match him.

"This is the way Zach has played for us all season, outstanding," said Kuchar. "He had seven shutouts this season. We go as he goes, and he made some outstanding saves for us, especially late. But their goalie was also outstanding."

Reading was finally able to break through 0:24 into the third. Laramie stopped two shots, but Kevin Tobin was there for his 20th goal of the season.

The two goalies continued to duel through the third and into overtime. Laramie made big plays, but so did Dynan, turning away a breakaway and a shot from the point that looked destined for the goal.

Reading found the winner with 2:42 into overtime, when Thomson scored his 26th of the season.

"We had our chances, they had their chances," said Kuchar. "We played with a Super 8 qualifier, and that's why we were in the Super 8 discussion (watch list). We showed tonight the level we can play at, and that we will be here for a while.

"For the guys that were on the team that only won five games two years ago, this is a great accomplishment. Losing hurts, but we showed we were one of the best teams in the state. Maybe it will be tomorrow or next week, but I hope they enjoy this memory."