Thursday, January 18, 2007 Older Editions

AHS ROUNDUP: Boys, girls hockey action

By Rick Harrison

BOYS HOCKEY

Tucker Mullin netted the winning goal in the final minute of the second period, and the defense allowed only four shots in the third stanza, as the Andover High boys varsity hockey team nipped visiting Merrimack Valley/Dual County League Division 2 foe Methuen, 3-2, at the Valley Forum in Lawrence.

That triumph snapped a brief two-game losing streak, the second loss by the same 3-2 score against MV/DCL Division 1 team Billerica at the Indians' Hallenborg Pavilion.

The recent split left head coach Mario Martiniello's AHS squad at 5-3-1 overall, almost halfway through its 21-game schedule, and 3-1 as a title challenger in MV/DCL 2.

Two of the three Andover losses have been by one goal in the closing minutes, while the other was by two goals.

The setback against Billerica was also the second straight in the final minute (5-4 to Haverhill).

Schedule

The locals played non-league opponent Wakefield for the first time in program history last night (Wednesday), after Townsman presstime, at the Valley Forum.

"They're struggling a little this season - but they're a Division 1 team that plays a tough schedule in a tough league (Middlesex)," said Martiniello. "They're banging heads with the likes of Woburn, Reading and Burlington every time out. It should be a very good test for us."

Because Andover is playing twice in the Martha's Vineyard Tournament over the Feb. 17-18 weekend, the locals were allowed to add an extra regular season game this winter (21 instead of 20). Wakefield is that game.

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A big MV/DCL 2 showdown is next up on Saturday night (6:30 p.m.), when Andover locks horns with perennial power Tewksbury (6-1-1) at the Janas Rink in Lowell.

Andover, Tewksbury and defending champ Haverhill are the three frontrunners in the division and are favored to battle to the wire for the D-2 championship.

The hits just keep on coming next Wednesday night when MV/DCL Division 1 leader Central Catholic, 7-1-1 at presstime including 4-0 in league play, invades the Valley Forum (7 p.m.).

Scoring leaders

Tucker Mullin continued his consistent play and led the Golden Warriors after nine games with 12 goals, 12 assists for 24 points.

John Hyslip had eight goals and eight assists before suffering a broken arm in the Billerica game.

Tied with nine points each - prior to Wakefield - were P.J. Paonessa (five goals, four assists) and golfer supreme Colin Brennan (two goals, seven assists).

Andover 3

Methuen 2

This was the sixth one-goal game in the last seven outings for the play-'em-tight Golden Warriors.

Most of the scoring came early - the teams trading four first-period goals before AHS netted the clincher late in the second.

After the visiting Rangers' Ryan Borden made it 1-0 just 3:37 into the game, AHS senior forward P.J. Paonessa tied it less than two minutes later (5:29) with assists to Tucker Mullin and sophomore defenseman Riki Retelle.

Paonessa tapped in a rebound of a Mullin shot after Retelle initiated the play at the point.

Matt Perry's goal at 9:46 gave Methuen its second lead, 2-1, but once again the locals responded two minutes later (11:45) when Colin Brennan collected a loose puck at the goalmouth and banged it home. Paonessa was credited with an assist.

The rival defenses then took control, the only other goal pocketed by Mullin with 53 seconds left in the middle period.

Brennan and Paonessa had the setups as Mullin emerged from the left corner. skated down low and stuffed the puck past MHS goalie Jonathan Borden.

"Just a pure hustle goal for Tucker," said coach Martiniello. "He worked hard for it and it turned out to be the winner."

The rivals then battled through a scoreless third period that saw only 10 shots on goal, six by Andover and four by the Rangers.

Methuen pulled goaltender Borden in the final minute but could not mount a serious challenge for the equalizer.

"We started slowly today," said Martiniello. "Methuen had a good game plan and it worked for them early. They came out very aggressive while we were too cautious and tentative in the first period."

Dan Abreu finished with 15 saves for AHS which held a 27-17 overall shooting edge.

The locals outgunned Methuen in every period, 11-6, 10-7 and 6-4.

Billerica 3

Andover 2

The Golden Warriors carried a 1-0 lead into the final four minutes of the game - but host Billerica broke through for three rapid-fire goals less than three minutes apart to pull out the MV/DCL crossover victory at the Hallenborg Pavilion.

"It was a flukey loss," said Martiniello. "We had them stymied all the way until they tied it late in the third on a deflection in front that bounced off Danny's (goalie Abreu) glove. An inch one way or the other and Danny makes the save or the puck goes wide.

"Their second goal bounced off the shaft of a stick - and that's when I said to myself 'it's just not meant to be tonight.'

"They hadn't penetrated our zone hardly at all - and suddenly they get those two goals on a couple of lucky bounces," said Martiniello.

The locals broke the scoreless deadlock at 2:03 of the second period when Tucker Mullin scored - with assists to All-Conference defenseman Dan Godefroi and Capt. Colin Brennan.

Abreu, bidding for his second shutout in three games, held the Division 1 Indians off the board until Dan Reardon tied it 1-1 with just 3:35 left to play on the first strange bounce.

Connor Toomey then broke Andover's back with a pair of goals, including the eventual game-winner, connecting 22 seconds after Reardon before adding the eventual game-winner with a mere 33 seconds to play.

"Their third goal was legitimate on a rebound," said Martiniello.

Trailing 3-1, AHS refused to roll over and pulled within one when senior forward Dan Powers scored 18 seconds after Toomey - with only 15 seconds left in the game.

Junior rearguard Kevin Drew and Mullin assisted on the Powers' goal, a deflection of a slapshot by Drew.

Abreu and Billerica's Peter Vacca both finished with 19 saves, as the winners managed a slim 22-21 shooting edge.

Hyslip injured

The loss was doubly costly for AHS when junior center and second leading scorer John Hyslip, averaging two points per game (one goal, one assist), suffered a broken arm during a tussle for the puck along the boards.

"It was pretty much a routine play," said Martiniello. "But John slipped slightly, lost his balance and went into the boards at a funny angle. His arm was tangled up between his body and the dasher."

The break is more like a hairline fracture, with Hyslip expected to wear a cast up to the elbow for three weeks before getting a shorter version that will allow him to return to playing.

"We're hoping to have him back on the ice for the Lowell game (Jan. 31)," said Martiniello.

GIRLS HOCKEY

First-period goals by 8th-graders Lea Macheras and Laura Drew, strong defense from Capt. Becky Johnson and another solid goaltending performance from Christina Cahill lifted the Andover High girls hockey team to a 2-1 Greater Boston/Merrimack Valley Conference victory over host Billerica at the Hallenborg Pavilion.

That triumph followed a 4-1 loss to GBL/MVC foe Arlington High that snapped a six-game winning streak and knocked AHS from the undefeated ranks.

The split left head coach Bill McCarthy's team at 7-1-1 overall, including 5-1 in the league where they are tied for the top with Arlington (9-1 overall).

The setback to Arlington marked the only time in nine games the locals have allowed more than two goals.

There have been two shutouts, five one-goal games and the Lady Warriors held a healthy 27-11 scoring edge on the opposition through nine games.

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Andover needs only five of a possible 22 points in its final 11 regular season games to qualify for the MIAA Division 1 Tournament.

"I don't think there's any question we'll make the tourney again," said McCarthy. "The other thing we really want is the league title.

"We have some tough games left with Chelmsford, Waltham and Arlington. We need to be more consistent. We've been Jekyll-and-Hyde with some very strong performances and others that weren't so good.

"I believe we're a better team than Arlington and we need to show that the second time around (Feb. 10). Chelmsford (4-4-1) may have the best overall talent in the league and we'll have to be on our game to beat them again (this Saturday)."

Andover nipped Chelmsford, 3-2, and blanked Waltham, 2-0, in their earlier meetings.

Schedule

The Lady Warriors returned to the Phillips Academy ice last night (Wednesday), after Townsman presstime, when they hosted Lincoln-Sudbury in a non-league game.

AHS plays Chelmsford on Saturday (4:30 p.m.) at the Chelmsford Forum in Billerica, and then sits idle for a week before traveling to Everett for a 5 p.m. GBL/MVC game on Saturday, Jan. 27.

Scoring leaders

Sarah Oteri, who missed the Billerica game while battling the stomach flu, has 10 goals and four assists for 14 points.

Becky Cairns has five goals and five assists, Heather Paonessa five goals, three assists and Laura Drew four goals, three assists.

Andover 2

Billerica 1

Although this wasn't one of the locals' better efforts - it was good enough to win as AHS scored two rapid-fire first-period goals and hung on for the victory.

Andover had beaten the same Billerica team 5-0 back on Dec. 16.

Eighth-grader Lea Macheras netted the first goal at 13:01 of the opening period, with Capt. Becky Cairns setting up Macheras' first varsity goal and point.

Laura Drew's fourth goal just 77 seconds later (14:18) proved to be the game-winner, as freshman Nicole Giroux and 8th-grader Jill Manning collected assists.

That completed the Lady Warriors' attack - but it was just enough as Billerica managed only a mid-second period goal by Danielle Shea (7:54) to make it interesting.

Both teams finished with 15 shots, Christina Cahill making 14 saves in the Andover net and Nicole Cataldo 13 stops for BMHS.

The locals, whistled for seven minors, also had to kill off five-plus penalties.

"Becky Johnson played a phenomenal defensive game," said coach McCarthy. "She is so steady and rock-solid - just what we want and need. She's excellent at controlling the puck, getting it out of our zone and playing the body.

"We also missed Sarah Oteri's (stomach flu) offense. She's averaging a goal a game and just one more would have let us breathe easier."

Arlington 4

Andover 1

The streak-breaking first loss of the season vaulted the host Spy Ponders past Andover into first place in the GBL/MVC.

Arlington, whose only loss was 2-1 to Chelmsford, took a 2-0 first-period lead on a pair of early goals 72 seconds apart by Brianne Cronin and Rachel White.

AHS sophomore forward Heather Paonessa's second-period goal, assisted by Trish Martin and Capt. Becky Cairns, trimmed the deficit to 2-1.

The Lady Warriors pulled sophomore goalie Megan Pettoruto for the extra skater with 1:50 to play in the game, but Arlington responded with an empty net goal 43 seconds later (13:53) before adding another insurance tally eight seconds after that (14:01).

"We just didn't play very well," said coach McCarthy. "I had seen Arlington and we had a comprehensive scouting report on them. We know who their best players are and how they like to play the game.

"We know Cronin likes to go up the middle - and that's what we allowed her to do on the first goal. We know White has a tremendous shot and we still let her wind up and release it on the second goal.

"For some reason we weren't hungry enough," said McCarthy. "It was a lackluster showing and that's disappointing because it was such a big game for us.

"Arlington is a physical team, with good puck-handling skills, and they definitely came to play.

"We had a few spurts where we put pressure on their defense - but overall I guess their experience won out over our youth," said McCarthy.

Pettoruto finished with 10 saves, as AHS managed a 15-14 shooting edge.