Groton, MA – #5 Governors Academy played at #4 Lawrence Academy Spartans in an ISL Keller division match between the #4 seed Lawrence Academy and #5 Governor’s Academy in the Piatelli/Simmons small school tournament.
It ended with a Vincent Lamberti shutout and a natural hat trick for Spencer Hirsch in a 5-0 victory for the Spartans. Most of the first period saw the two teams trade power plays and a couple of grade A opportunities but both goalies were up to the test. Shortly after a Governor’s power play late in the first the Spartans would strike first as Ty Wood protected the puck down the left wing and found a streaking Clarence Beltz for a cross body one time wrist shot that was steered wide by Governors Max Lacroix. Beltz then wasted no time retrieving the puck from below the goal line and found an awaiting Hirsch stick in front for his first of the game with 1:31 remaining in the period.
The middle twenty was back and forth hockey with each team applying pressure for stretches and getting chances. Throughout the period it seemed that whoever scored next would take a strong hold of the outcome. Following a Governor’s power play, as the Spartans pressured offensively deep in the offensive zone Owen Leahy gained position out of a corner battle, beat his defender to a loose puck for a 2v1 in front. fed Hirsch for his second tally with 3:44 to go in the frame.
The Spartans did not waste any time in the third, scoring two early. Hirsch would complete his hat trick off a quick transition that sent him on a breakaway. He finished off in front of an elated Lawrence Academy student crowd. Less than a minute later, the Spartans would transition quickly up through the middle zone, finding Josh Erickson along the right wing who beat Lacroix, low blocker for a 4-0 lead with 15:41 left in the game. Governors tried to regroup with a timeout but an untimely penalty immediately following gave Lawrence all the energy they would need. The rest of the period remained all Spartans as they kept Governors deep in their own end and were quick to break up plays in the neutral zone. The final Spartan goal would come with 5:15 to play as big RD Noah Vitesse gained the OZ blue line, took a hard wrist shot along the ice which produced a perfect rebound for Leahy as he drove the center lane untouched to put the game well out of reach.
Lawrence Academy will host #8 New Hampton on Saturday at 2pm.
First Star: Vin Lamberti (Lawrence)
Second Star: Spencer Hirsch (Lawrence)
Third Star: Owen Leahy (Lawrence)
Box Score Not published yet
Photo Credit: Dan Hickling/Hickling Images
