No beating Needham's system
Needham had a lock on its opponents throughout the Division 1 South playoffs. In last night's state championship game, Westford Academy became the latest foe unable to find the right combination.
The Grey Ghosts, who erupted for 19 goals in their previous three tournament games, were contained by Needham and goalie Sam Gifford as the Rockets prevailed, 4-1, at TD Banknorth Garden and celebrated their first state title in 38 years.
Needham relied on its ability to protect its net all season. Entering the tournament, the Rockets had allowed just 21 goals in 20 games. After falling to Xaverian, 3-0, in the Super 8 play-in game, Needham got back to its winning formula, allowing just three goals over the next four games.
"We played very well defensively and came up with really clutch stops," said Needham coach Bill Guisti.
Senior Cody Sharib scored what proved to be the winning goal, his second of the game, 3:42 into the second period. The Rockets proceeded to clamp down on Westford, allowing just one shot to reach Gifford in the period.
"They controlled the game [in the second period]," said Westford coach Bob Carpenter. "They picked up our third guy coming down very well. That guy was always covered."
Curtis Serafini made a brilliant save shortly before Sharib put the Rockets up, 2-0. Sharib sent a pass to sophomore Sam Kane but Serafini slid to his right to make the save. Unfortunately for Serafini, he couldn't control the rebound. Amid confusion in front of the net, the puck squirted onto Sharib's stick and he found the back of the net through the scramble.
"I got the rebound out in front of the net and the goalie was nowhere to be seen," said Sharib. "I'm so happy, I'm speechless."
Carpenter, who credited Needham for "playing its system beautifully and taking care of the little things," said his team made a mistake on the play.
"We didn't do a good job clearing in front of the net," said Carpenter. "They are too good to give them three of four chances."
"To get that second goal was huge," said Guisti. "Cody took the bull by the horns today. He played great in all three zones. We were trying to keep him out there whenever [Craig Cardone's] line was out there."
Cardone, Westford's leading scorer with 50 points (19-31 -50), was held scoreless.
Serafini was helpless again on Needham's third tally at 13:07 of the second period on the power play, victimized this time in an entanglement in front that allowed Kane to snatch up the free puck untouched and deposit it into an empty net.
Westford's best chance of the period came just before the goal, as Cardone found senior Mike Young wide open coming down the slot. But Young's shorthanded attempt sailed over the net.
Gifford continued to deny the Grey Ghosts in the third period, stopping Pat Sullivan's high shot on a two-on-one a minute and a half in.
"He came up with the timely saves," said Guisti.
Westford continued to pressure with less than five minutes to play and had a sequence of shots blocked before finally getting one past Gifford.
On a power play, Young sent a quick pass from just behind the net across the crease to senior defenseman Tyler Harrington, who moved in and beat Gifford with 4:10 to play.
The Grey Ghosts pulled their goalie in the final minute but failed to keep the puck in the offensive zone, enabling Mark Joyce to add an empty-netter with 26.7 seconds to play.
Needham controlled play and sent four power-play shots at Serafini in the first couple of minutes but the senior was sharp. Westford needed nearly four minutes to test Gifford.
Sharib put Needham ahead to stay a 12:19 of the first period, taking Will Rayner's breakout pass and taking defenseman Bob Laroche wide before beating Serafini to the stick side.
"That was crucial for us to take the lead," said Guisti. "It took the monkey off our backs and relaxed us a little bit."
