Two wins moves Shrewsbury hockey into Final 8

Colonials | from page 16

Shrewsbury had some trouble finding the back of the net early on thanks to some spectacular play from Old Rochester goalie Ryann Tripp, who notched 35 saves. But once the Colonials figured out a way to solve Tripp, the floodgates opened.

Leading 1-0 late in the first, Shrewsbury scored three times in a span of 40 seconds and went into the first intermission 4-0.

“We had opportunities, but their goalie played fantastic,” said Panarelli. “It’s nice to see the team respond like that, to get three quick goals really put the game away a little bit. That was huge. We didn’t want to go into the locker room up just 1-0.”

Shrewsbury pushed its lead to 5-0 midway through the second, when Maddie Mrva scored off a feed from Taylor Ryder (two assists).

With Old Rochester skaters visibly fatigued, Shrewsbury ramped up its attack and turned the game into a rout in the third period. Goals by Lauren Albertson, Riley Manchester, McKenzie and Natalie MacCausland accounted for the final score.

Hodge and junior Nate Gulachenski had two goals each and senior goalie Jack Stiles turned aside all 26 shots he faced to lead the Titans. Sophomore Ben Yosca added three assists.

The Titans were clinging to a 1-0 lead, as the final seconds of the second period ticked off. Hodge was camped in front of the net, took a feed from behind the goal from Yosca and flicked a shot that clanged off the post. But the puck ricocheted into the back of New South goalie Dylan Zukowski, deflected into the net and earned the goal with just 1.3 seconds on the clock.

Hodge would score again, just 19 seconds into the third period, giving Algonquin a 3-0 lead and sapping all the fight from the visiting Lions.

Newton South was able to hang close through the first two periods, thanks in large part to a sensational game from Zukowski, who finished with 42 saves.

Stiles was just a little bit better for the Titans.

Newton South’s best scoring chances came on power plans in the first and second periods, when they buzzed the Algonquin zone with almost constant pressure. Stiles made a pad save on Tim Kasyanov and then a gutsy poke check save on Declan Daley to keep the Lions off the board in the first period.

“He was fantastic there, and he’s been that way for us all year long,” said Cappello. “In those big moments, he’s covering it up. He’s taking care of business.”