By Sam Rosenblatt
Sports Reporter
After boasting a 17-2-1 regular season record, the boys’ hockey team lost to Bedford 3-2 in the MIAA Division 3 North quarterfinals on Friday night after entering as the top seed in the division.
Playing in front of a packed house at the John A. Ryan Arena, the Lions struck first when junior forward Thomas Tresca put South up 1-0 less than five minutes into the 1st period. Tresca smashed the shot home after the initial shot rebounded right to his stick.
Bedford quickly countered, producing shots and forcing a few quick saves from senior goalie Chris Olsson.
With just under five minutes remaining in the 1st period, senior captain Griffin Connolly nearly doubled the Lions’ lead with a couple of close shots saved by Bedford’s goalie.
For the rest of the period, Newton South controlled the puck and created many chances, but failed to find the back of the net.
The 2nd period nearly opened with a bang for the Lions as senior forward Hampus Samuelsson’s breakaway chance was denied just ten seconds into the period. Samuelsson then served up a pass to Connolly, whose shot was again saved by the Buccaneers’ goalie.
Bedford soon tied the score at one on a two-on-one breakaway with 11:21 remaining in the period.
South found themselves in more trouble when Tresca was sent to the penalty box with 8:45 remaining in the period.
However, the Lions immediately pounced on a loose puck and set up senior forward Eddie Friedman on a breakaway. With just the goalie to beat, Friedman took a backhand shot that appeared to be saved by Bedford, but the puck took a high, knuckling hop off the goalie’s pads and landed in the back of the net. The short-handed goal put the Lions up 2-1 with 8:34 remaining in the 2nd period.
“That was a great rush by Eddie. He’s so good at carrying the puck with speed and it was awesome to see him blow by the team like that,” junior defenseman Andrew Wales said. “A shorthanded goal is always outstanding for momentum.”
However, the lead did not last long, as Bedford equalized just less than 90 seconds later. South had just finished a successful penalty-kill, but could not deny the Buccaneers from tying the game at two with 7:10 remaining in the period.
Wales played a critical role in holding off Bedford’s attempts to take the lead, using his body to block two shots later on in the 2nd.
After spending much of the latter half of the period in the defensive zone, the Lions rattled shot after shot on net in the final three minutes, but could only find the chest, glove, and pads of Bedford’s goalie. The game was tied at two heading into the 3rd period.
“We knew we weren’t playing our best and we knew Bedford was going to be fired up coming into [the 3rd period],” Wales said. “We had to generate some energy and just play our game.”
The Lions set a physical tone to start the final period, and were lifted by another key save from Olsson. Tension rose in John A. Ryan Arena as a Bedford shot hit the post with 11 minutes remaining, and South threatened the opposing goal again.
With 9:47 remaining in the game, Olsson made another critical save and then denied Bedford of a rebound goal with a sprawling kick save to keep the game tied.
South went on the power play for the first time with seven minutes left, but shots from Samuelsson and Connolly could not find the back of the net.
The Buccaneers held off South’s powerplay, and then delivered the dagger, finding the net with just 3:21 remaining in the game. The goal gave Bedford their first lead of the night at 3-2.
“You see your season kind of flash before your eyes when something like that happens so late in a game. I’m sure the seniors wanted that next goal so bad. I wanted it so bad,” Wales said.
Inside of three minutes, the Lions came close to tying the game as they relentlessly tested the Bedford goalkeeper but were turned away each time.
The Lions pulled Olsson for an extra attacker with about 1:30 to play, and had chances off of offensive zone face-offs with under a minute left, but were ultimately denied when a last chance shot went wide and Bedford held on to take the upset victory.
It was a disappointing finish after what had been the best season in program history, and after a fast start early in the game.
“I think the team reacted pretty well to the back and forth play but we couldn’t quite gain the edge and play our game the way we wanted to. Bedford played out of their minds,” Wales said. “Sometimes though, no matter how hard you try, things just don’t go your way. That’s what happened Friday night.”
