Fri, Mar 02, 2018
05:40 PM @
Neutral Location
| Team |
1 |
2 |
3 |
Final |
| Boston Latin |
3 |
1 |
0 |
4 |
| Methuen |
1 |
0 |
2 |
3 |
Late rally falls short for Rangers
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Friday, March, 02
By David Willis
Staff writer
BILLERICA — For a moment, it appeared Methuen may be able to finish the amazing comeback.
Brett Blackwell took a pass and fired home a goal with 0:39 left in regulation to cut what was a three-goal Rangers deficit midway through the third to just a single score.
Methuen followed that with a pair of rushes that nearly found the back of the net, and had a faceoff to the left of the Boston Latin goalie with five seconds left.
But No. 12 Methuen could not find that final goal, falling to No. 13 Boston Latin 4-3 in the Division 2 North quarterfinals at the Chelmsford Forum.
“We came out flying and we finished very well,” said Methuen coach Bill Blackwell. “But in the middle we started to make some mistakes. Those mistakes multiplied and put us in a hole. All season we have had trouble putting 45 good minutes together. But I am proud of the guys.”
For nearly two full quarters, Boston Latin appeared to be in full control. The Wolf Pack took a 4-1 lead 3:34 into the second quarter, and dominated the puck and the momentum.
The Rangers, however, would not go away quietly.
First, Brett Blackwell hauled in a loose puck in his zone and floated a perfect pass to Matt Horan, who was breaking towards the goal. Horan did the rest, faking out the goalie and burying the puck to make it 4-2 with 8:12 left.
Then, with 0:39 remaining, Horan set up Blackwell for his goal to make it a one-score game. But a few final attempts were saved by the Latin goal, and time expired.
“We were playing like gangbusters in the final minutes,” said Bill Blackwell. “But time just ran out on us tonight.”
Methuen was actually the enforcer out of the gates. The Rangers came out flying, controlling the puck and delivering a few big hits. Ryan Mackey gave the Rangers the lead 4:21 into play when he buried a rebound in front of the net.
But Boston Latin responded with two goals just 1:34 apart to take a 2-1 lead.
“We had talked about putting pressure on their defense and getting them off balance early,” said Bill Blackwell. “But once they settled in, they started controlling the game a little, and we started committing turnovers.”
With the loss, Methuen ended its season at 11-8-3. The Rangers made the playoffs for the second straight season after not making it the previous four years, and their record was one win shy of last season’s 12-5-4 mark, the team’s best since the Eagle-Tribune began keeping records in 1995-96.
With his goal and assist, Blackwell finishes his senior season 20 goals and 45 points, both team-highs. Horan’s score was his 17th of the season, while Mackey scored his 13th goal.
Goalie Eddie Mrozowski also impressed in just over 26 minutes of action. He made 18 saves and did not allow a goal.
“We told the guys that this is where we want to be at the end of the year, in the tournament,” said coach Blackwell. “I told the guys they should walk out of here with their heads up because they had a great year. These juniors and senior have really rejuvenated the program. This group was amazing, and hopefully we can continue this path and be back at the party every year.”
Game Statistics:
Division 2 North first round
Goals: M — Ryan Mackey, Matt Horan, Brett Blackwell; BL — Frank Linso2 , Stephen Graham, Sam Hutchinson
Assists: M — Justin Pitari, Joey Silverio, Blackwell, Horan, Pat Cooper; BL — Hutchinson, Nick O'Connell 2, Josh Sharek, Devin Gallagher, Tom Butler
Saves: M — Devin Coonradt 10, Eddie Mrozowski 18; BL — Dan Sebo 24
