Belmont, MA – Andover Academy headed to Belmont to take on Belmont Hill in a 5:00 game. Chase Anderson started in the net for Andover, and Keagin Wilson for the home team.
The first period started strangely, with a penalty for a faceoff violation before the puck even dropped. Belmont Hill killed the penalty off and both teams traded chances. Anderson made a great save on Andrew Waugh in the middle of the frame. Andover drew first blood on a top corner snapshot on the rush by Grayden Robertson-Palmer to make it 1-0 AA with under four minutes left. That is how the period ended with an advantage of play to Andover.
The second period belonged to Belmont Hill, thanks largely to Wilson, who made several big stops in the first half of the frame. Belmont Hill survived three Andover power plays again, partly thanks to Wilson. With 5:24 left, Jake McManus pushed a bad gap on the Phillips Andover defensemen and snapped a shot high and home. Wilson made another save on a 2v1 ten seconds later to keep it tied. Then Brady Sloper ripped a shot waist-high that Waugh redirected for a score—the period ended with Belmont Hill leading 2-1.
The third period saw both teams with quality chances. Jin Lee popped a power play rebound home off a Grayson Cohen shot to make it 3-1. Phillips Andover was able to pull their goalie with a few minutes left in a 4v4 situation. When the teams went even, Waugh grabbed a loose puck and snapped a shot from inside his blue line into the empty Andover net to seal the game and give Belmont Hill a 4-1 lead.
Three Stars
First: Keagin Wilson (Belmont Hill)
Second: Andrew Waugh (Belmont Hill)
Third: Jake McManus (Belmont Hill)
