LYNN — Top-ranked Pope Francis needed an extra period to subdue upset-minded St. Mary’s.
After tying the game on a goal by Joe Orszulak with 34.9 seconds left in regulation, Pope Francis won the game in overtime when Liam Dolan intercepted a pass in the neutral zone to get on a breakaway and score the game-winner to give the visitors a hard-fought 2-1 boys hockey win.
“Anybody in the top 20 can beat anybody as you can see tonight in this one,” said Cardinal coach Brian Foley. “Every road game we play it’s a two hour ride for us so we knew it was going to be a tough one. It was the first game we were able to get a 6-on-5 goal and our first overtime game. So credit to all the boys’ effort and for Liam to win it for us, he is probably our best pure goal scorer.”
Added Dolan: “The goalie was shifted to the right and I saw the bottom left open and I shot it there and it went in. The win feels great.”
The first period showed that even though Pope Francis (11-2) was the bigger team, it was St.
Mary’s (11-3-1) which played bigger and set the tone. The Spartans had more offensive zone time, shots on goal, physical body checks, blocked shots, and even killed the period’s lone penalty. The first period was scoreless for both teams but it was clear that the hometown team dictated the pace
of play in the opening 15 minutes.
It was more of the same recipe in the second period. The Spartans were able to get two
quick power plays in the first six minutes, but were unable to convert. The middle frame also
saw more life from the Cardinals. St. Mary’s goalie junior Matthew Smith had a couple really nice
point blank range saves to keep Pope Francis off the board.
With 1:03 left in the second, junior Colton Carpenter broke a scoreless duel as he slammed home a rebound for the goal. Finn Racki and Joey Calder both picked up the assists on the goal.
The third period was more of an even fair with both teams playing solid for large stretches. St. Mary’s killed off a penalty late in regulation, but the overtime period belonged to Pope Francis.
George Ramsey had 17 saves for the Cardinals, while Matthew Smith had 15 in defeat.