Hockey Blanks OA, Advances to South Final

For the third time in four years, the current senior class on the boys hockey team had reached the South Regional Semifinals. They had never won and and advanced to the Regional final, until last night.

Medfield celebrates a 3-0 win after the final buzzer.
(Photo by Josh Perry) 

The team struggled out of the gate, and Oliver Ames carried the play in the early few minutes. Goalie Dan Graham came up big to keep the Tigers off the board. In fact, he would not yield a goal all night including in the final two minutes when OA threw everything but the kitchen sink on goal. It was the first playoff shutout for Medfield since 2011 when Conner Roddy blanked Abington/East Bridgewater 3-0.

Despite the slow start, a goal midway through the first helped stem the tide in favor of Medfield. After the puck was dumped in deep, Louis Cappucci made a strong play to get it up top, where a well placed shot created a rebound chance for Brett Thomas. Thomas got just enough wood on the puck and it trickled past OA goalie Jimmy Tierney and just over the goal line. It was Thomas' second goal of the playoffs from Cappucci and Matt Dresens with less than five minutes to play in the first period.

Medfield dominated the play in the second period. The announced shots were 9-6 Medfield, but that does not accurately tell the story. The Warriors' best chance to add a goal actually didn't even count as a shot on goal. John McLean rang the post on the power play, which technically isn't a shot on goal.

Again, Medfied carried the play in the third, but but just couldn't beat Tierney. Justin Hirschfield had the best chance on back door play, but Tierney made a nifty glove save to keep it a one goal game.

Jack Scannell celebrates after his
empty net goal in the final minute
last night.
(Photo by Rich Images)

Like mentioned before, OA threw everything they had on net in the final minutes, but Jack Scannell erased any doubt of a comeback with an empty net goal with less than a minute left. Hirschfield added and other ENG to seal the deal.

With the 3-0, Medfiled advanced to the South Regional Final, where they will face Canton, who topped an over-rated number one seed in Plymouth South 7-1. The game will be Sunday starting at 4:45 in Bourne.