RallyNorth.net

Central surges to semifinal

Saturday, February, 27 By David Willis
Staff writer

WOBURN, Mass. — If critics still wondered if Central Catholic could bounce back after being eliminated from the Super 8 tourney, the Raiders have answered those questions.

“We were disappointed,” said senior tri-captain Steve Balsamo. “But a state championship is a state championship and we are out to get it.”

Central Catholic grabbed the lead 6:01 into the game and never surrendered the advantage on the way to downing Acton-Boxboro 4-1 last night in the Division 1 North quarterfinals. The Raiders had beaten the Colonials twice during the regular season.

Central advances to the semifinals on Wednesday at the Chelmsford Forum in Billerica against sixth-seeded Arlington Catholic (12-7-4). Central beat AC 1-0 in the regular season.  

“Now we are finally bearing down and winning the one-on-one battles and getting the right outcomes,” said senior Shane Leonard, who iced the victory with his second goal of the season. “We are confident and know our goal.”

The Raiders wasted no time taking control. Johnny Daniels hauled in a pass in front of the net, kept control as a player hacked at his stick and roofed the puck into the top left corner of the net for his 15th goal of the season, and first of the tournament.

Then, with 3:16 left in the first, freshman Mike Kelleher continued his outstanding postseason by giving the Raiders a 2-0 lead. It was his fourth goal of the tournament after scoring just twice in the regular season.

“Mike just has the scoring knack,” said Raiders head coach Mike Jankowski. “He’s still coming around on defense, but he’s worked hard, is getting his chances and taking advantage.

“We’ve finally gotten over the hump and it’s business as usual now. We have struggled to score goals at times this season, but we got out to the big advantage and didn’t let up.”

Raiders goalie Kyle Williams was more than up to the task. He made 10 saves in the first period — as many has he had to make total in the first round win over Medford.

After some struggles late in the regular season, the sophomore was outstanding, finishing with 22 saves. Two of his best were a butterfly stop on a breakaway and a highlight glove save on a shooter all alone in front of the net.

“Kyle has been there for us all year,” said Jankowski. “He answers the call every time, and everything we do starts with defense and goaltending.”

Williams also received a little help from Leonard in the first. The goaltender slid to his right to block a puck, which rebounded to a shooter who appeared to have an open net to Williams’ left.

But Leonard dropped to his knees to stop the shot and cleared the puck away from the net to sustain what was then a 1-0 lead.

“There was a scramble in front of the net,” remembered Leonard. “It was mass confusion. I happened to be down on the ice and I did what I had to do to keep it out of the net.”

Acton-Boxboro did cut the lead in half in the second, and it remained a one-goal lead until sophomore Ryan Daigle potted his second goal of the season with 1:52 left in the game. Leonard chipped in the empty-net tally to finish off the scoring.

“There is no quit in this team,” said Jankowski. “We played fantastic. The energy level was great and everyone stepped up.”