Martlets Defeat NMH in Opener

The Martlets opened the 2022-2023 campaign this evening at home vs the Hoggers from Northfield Mount Hermon. This game always seems to be won by a small margin and tonight was no exception. Both teams were set to go from the start of this one. The Martlets had the Hoggers on their heels for the first half of the first period. The NMH goalie was outstanding early in the period and made some early saves that stymied the Martlet offense. NMH struck first off a nicely executed line rush that caught the Martlets a bit flat footed. Despite being down 1-0 after the first 18 minutes the Martlets locker room after the period was all positive. The team felt good about their game and came out firing in the second. The Martlets maintained the same pace they played with in the first and about halfway through the 2nd period Rowan Masse '23 corralled a loose puck in the high slot of the NMH zone and using the defending defenseman as a screen, fired a perfect shot that beat the NMH tender to tie the game at 1. The period would end with both teams exchanging chances, killing off penalties, and both goalies making big saves to keep it knotted at 1. The 3rd period offered up end to end action. Just a few minutes in to the 3rd Michael Bianco '23 banged home a nice pass from Derek Rhodes '23 to give the Black and Gold the 2-1 lead. The Hoggers answered back at the midpoint of the period off a nice exchange low to tie the game at 2. With just under four minutes left to play, Brian Judge '24 picked up a loose puck in the neutral zone, accelerated wide past the defending defenseman and fired a perfect shot that nipped the right post before crossing for the line for the game winning goal. Shoutouts to Chase Arnett '23 for a solid 200 foot game, Rowan Masse for a big shot block, and the d corp of Jack Jin, Matt Hanscom, Tino DeFazio, Hayden Raycraft, JJ Hurley, Eric Elbery and Patrick Dotson for locking down the game. Matteo De Luca was outstanding all night making 25 saves on 28 shots. The team will face Choate this Wednesday.