Woburn, MA – The third-seeded Concord-Carlisle Patriots faced off against the #11-seeded Boston Latin Wolf Pack at O’Brien Rink in Woburn in an MIAA Elite 8 Division II Playoff game. The teams played twice this season, with each team winning one game by a goal. Sophomore Oliver Murphy started in the net for Boston Latin, and sophomore Sam Griswold started for the Patriots.
Latin carried the play from the puck drop with sustained offensive zone pressure and chances on the rush. Senior Matthew Carrara looked dangerous early and often and popped the first Wolf Pack goal with 8:38 left. Carrara jumped on a loose puck to fire it home. An assist went to senior Aidan Fitzpatrick. Thirteen seconds later, Boston Latin struck again as senior defenseman Robert Banks ripped one home from Garrett Berube. The onslaught continued as junior Billy Cunniffe intercepted a pass and went in alone for the third Latin goal. It was 3-0 with 7:11 left in the first. Concord-Carlisle took a timeout and shortly after earned a power play. The Patriots took advantage of a hard shot under the crossbar by sophomore Will Manchuso off a slick cross-zone pass from Jay Carter. Concord-Carlisle started to gain momentum until they took an ill-advised offensive zone penalty with 36 seconds left in the period. Boston Latin struck again with 10.6 seconds left on another Carrara goal assisted by Fitzpatrick and Banks and the period ended 4-1 Boston Latin.
Concord-Carlisle made a goalie change to start the second as sophomore Jason Smith took over for Griswold. The change did not slow the Wolf Pack as they still created chance after chance. Ryan McHugh drove the net hard and redirected a Cunniffe pass home to make it 5-1 with 7:28 left in the second. Banks picked up a secondary assist for his third point. The Patriots scored on the power play with 48 seconds remaining as sophomore Cam Doull snapped home a rebound created by freshman Joe Grasso to make it 5-2. Manchuso picked up a secondary assist. Concord Carlisle went into the room with some momentum but a large task at hand.
The third period was more even as Concord-Carlisle played desperate hockey. Oliver Murphy made a couple of excellent saves, one with his glove in tight at the 13:32 mark. Latin called a timeout soon after and pulled their goalie with over five minutes to go. However, with 4:17 left, Carrara shot a puck home while diving in the air to make it 6-2. It was a hat trick for Carrara and the end for the Patriots. Fitzpatrick added an assist. The final score was 6-2 as the Wolf Pack were a win away from the Garden.
Three Stars
First: Matthew Carrara (Latin)
Second: Robert Banks (Latin)
Third: Billy Cunniffe (Latin)
