Details
Martlets Hold On for Tie
With Seconds Hockey luminary Peter Briggs '71 in attendance, the Martlets hosted a hardworking Williston Northampton team and survived a desultory effort to post a 2-2 tie. All credit is due the Wildcats, as they continued to put forth an impressive effort and grew stronger as the game wore on. They scored the equalizer with only eight seconds to go in the third period and battled throughout the ensuing OT for a tie they well deserved. For their part, the Martlets scored on the first two shifts of the game and seemed to be headed for a rout, but did not build on that early success. Lacking a sense of proper urgency or a real commitment to the structure and balance necessary to consistently pressure an opponent, the Seconds did not play their best. Though they ultimately outshot the visitors 31-18, few of those shots were quality scoring chances and the Black and Gold could not seem to penetrate the Williston defense for a second or third chance at the puck. The Williston goalie, after a shaky start, really settled in and made save after save, posting a 44-minute, 29-save shutout after Westminster's quick lead. Will Scott '20 performed admirably in the Martlet net, turning aside 16 shots, and it was really defensive breakdowns in front of him that led to both Williston scores. The first Martlet goal came a scant 30 seconds into the game, as Aidan Petrie '20 dug the puck out of the corner and fired it on net; it caught just the right spot above the Williston keeper's skate and snuck in. Alec Paro '19 added to the lead moments later when he ripped home a slap shot from the top of the circle after two quick passes from Alex Tonioni '22 and Nate Stevens '21 opened up space for him. But that was it on the scoresheet for Westminster. Several chances went for naught in the second period, and the Martlets more often turned the puck over or threw it away rather than playing disciplined, simple, up-tempo hockey. Predictably, the tables started to turn in the third. Williston scored its first goal on a breakaway — one of nine conceded by the home side in the game, a telling number — when a mishandled pass on the offensive blue line was pounced on by a Wildcat who went in alone to push the puck past Scott. Then, with the game clock winding down, a lazy line change by the Martlets led to a face off just outside the defensive zone which, seemingly impossibly, yielded an opportunity for Williston as the puck and one of the team’s forwards got behind the Westminster defensemen. A scrum resulted, and suddenly the puck was in the back of the Westminster net. Overtime was highlighted by a scoring chances for both sides – Hunter Johnson '21 rang a hard shot off the far post, and Scott made his best save of the afternoon off a really good tipped shot – but 2-2 was the final. In truth, the Martlets learned a tough lesson about sports this afternoon: it's a pure meritocracy, and you get what you deserve (maybe more: they were fortunate not to lose the game). The coaches will spend the evening with emeritus coach Briggs reviewing game film, but the story of this afternoon is really one of too little grit. The Seconds will lick their wounds, do some soul-searching, and get back to work tomorrow to prepare for the always tough Kent Lions – at Kent at 4:30 p.m., a very tall order – Saturday.
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