Shawsheen in Division 3 final
Whitman-Hanson, Fontbonne prevail
For the first time since 1978, the Shawsheen boys' hockey team is going to the state Division 3 final, courtesy of a 4-3 overtime win over Norwell last night at Harvard's Bright Center.
Matt Grace's goal at 2:46 sent Shawsheen to TD Banknorth Garden, where it will meet Shrewsbury, a 3-0 winner over Longmeadow, Sunday at 2:45 p.m.
"That game was such a battle," said Shawsheen coach Chuck Baker. "It was physical, up and down. You hate to see a loser in a game like that, but I am happy Shawsheen is going to the Garden."
Shawsheen was the hungrier team from the initial faceoff, controlling the first five minutes and scoring on its first shot.
The goal came from Zachary Teal from in front of the net as he launched a one-timer to the top corner.
Norwell tied it on a fortuitous goal. The initial shot from Drew Himberg was stopped by Evan Walsh, but he did not cover the puck and it slid into the net when he was bumped by a defenseman.
"Walsh is really stepping up for us as a senior," said Baker. "He was great again tonight."
However lucky they may have been, the Clippers used the momentum to take the lead. This time the goal came from Garrett Duffy, who beat Walsh high.
Norwell was still dominating as the period drew to a close, but Shawsheen's Ryan Arensbach found team captain Mike DeRosa in front, and DeRosa slid the puck under Norwell netminder Clay Ferguson to tie the score with 13.3 seconds left.
The Rams controlled the first half of the second period but were unable to score.
Just as in the first, Norwell began to gain control late in the period and took the lead at 11:09 when Patrick Hathaway connected, assisted by Joe Carroll and James McAteer.
But Shawsheen came right back as DeRosa scored his second of the game, skating in alone and faking Ferguson out of his net.
The third period was back and forth, but neither team was able to break through.
In the extra session, Grace banged home an Arensbach rebound.
"We told the kids all night to throw it at his feet," said Baker. "Sure enough, Arensbach sent one in five-hole and somehow it goes in."
Whitman-Hanson's Sarah Fallon opened the scoring just 30 seconds into the game with a shot from the left circle. Winchester responded 10 minutes later with a shorthanded strike from Michaela Chiuccariello on a breakaway.
Whitman-Hanson came right back on a power play when Gianna Desisto won a draw back to her sister, Adelia, who fired a shot home from the point. The Desisto sisters combined again early in the second period, this time with Gianna scoring on an Adelia rebound to give the Panthers a 3-1 lead.
Winchester controlled play in the third period but got only one goal, at 10:25 from Julia Symonds.
Fontbonne (17-4-2) shut out Duxbury, 3-0, in the other semifinal, at Gallo Arena in Bourne. Sophomore forward Taylor Shepherd netted all of the goals, and goalie Kristen Connors notched her third consecutive shutout during the playoffs and seventh of the season.
Whitman-Hanson/Pembroke will face Fontbonne at the Garden Sunday at 12:30 p.m.
Abdul-Qaadir is also a finalist for the Gatorade National Player of the Year Award, which will be announced in mid-March.
