STONEHAM – London MacDonald ruined a dream season for Shawsheen Technical College.
Marblehead's forwards bounced back from a comfortable win to the finals as the second-place Shawsheen Technical College men's hockey team lost 2-1 to sixth-place Marblehead in the Division 3 Final Four at Stoneham Arena on March 9. I scored a goal.
The Headers advance to face top-seeded Nauset (21-1-1) or No. 12 Somerset-Berkeley (18-5-2) on Sunday, March 17 at TD Garden. Both teams were scheduled to play on Sunday. The second-seeded Rams finished the season strong with a record of 22 wins and 2 losses.
Entering the third period trailing 2-1, Shawsheen threw Marblehead netminder Leo Burdge (21 saves) for everything but the kitchen sink, putting the Headers up 10-1 and 23-20 overall. Although they were ahead, they were unable to score the tying goal.
“At the end of the day, I don't think we played our best game,” Shawsheen Technical College coach Chuck Baker said. “We've been going pretty well from the first race to now. I think it's 23 straight, but it's tough. I think we were caught off guard by the way they came out. We reacted quickly enough. I don't think we could have done it. I think we played with too much nerve and anxiety.”
Shawsheen had a strong performance, led by team co-captain Chase Darcy. The senior forward had some good looks, including a great rush in the opening seconds and another great chance late in the stanza.
But it was Marblehead that drew blood first, scoring 14 seconds into the game's first power play. Kyle Hart scored 8:31 into the first period after a goalmouth scramble. Captain Hogan Sedky and James Kieran recorded assists.
Marblehead's defense managed to stop the Rams with a few heavy body checks. Shawsheen senior goaltender Mike Cedrone (19 saves) made several key stops, including taking Charlie Shannon from close range in the final seconds of the first period. Header defeated Shawsheen 10-8 at the end of the first period.
Senior captain Liam Milne orchestrated a comeback for Shawsheen, scoring the game-tying goal 23 seconds into the second period. Darcy and junior defenseman Larry Cullity provided help.
The header continued to chip away as Cam Waldman and defenseman James McKenzie put plenty of pressure on Cedrone. Shawsheen seemed to take advantage of the save, hitting the crossbar on a rush with 7:28 left in the middle.
However, just as momentum began to build, Header made a strong counterattack. McDonald made a brilliant breakthrough off a feed from Hogan Sedky to take a 2-1 lead with 2:14 left in the second period.
Shawsheen started the third period on a power play but was unable to break through. Kyle Gray's shot from the left wing was parried away by goalkeeper Leo Burdge. Gray, a senior forward, showed plenty of fortitude, especially after taking a big hit in the first period and crawling to the bench. Since then, he has never missed a shift.
A strong forecheck from No. 3 Marblehead kept Shawsheen looking for opportunities the rest of the way.
Shawsheen had a great chance at 10:39 of the third on the second power play with too many people on an ice call. The Rams took just two shots, squandering the man advantage when Burge stomped Gray on a snap glove save.
Shawsheen outscored opponents 10-1 in the third period and put up an impressive final stand, but was unable to find the back of the net despite a third power play with 1:45 left in the game. .
“We picked them up in the third and I think it was a little too late,” Baker said. “We didn't really get into a rhythm early on, and that's been the case all year. If we can get into a rhythm in the first period, we're a tough team to play, and we didn't.”
Baker is proud of the team's overall effort this season.
“It’s a great group of kids,” Baker said. “No matter what happens during the season, I don't want to coach anyone but them. It stings a little bit. I wanted to go next, but this is what it is. You either win or you lose. But they didn’t give us the chance we had last time.”
