Thursday, March 22, 2007 Older Editions

ANDOVER HOCKEY: That's the way the puck bounces

By Rick Harrison

A victory would have been as beautiful and inspired as putting Shakira and Beyonce Knowles in the same music video.

In this case, although we're not talking the Total Request Live countdown, placing No. 2 isn't too shabby, either.

The 2006-07 Andover High boys varsity hockey team fell one victory and two goals shy of being the best Division 2 squad in Massachusetts - after two late third-period goals by Hanover snapped a scoreless deadlock and sent the locals down to a 2-0 defeat in the State championship game played before a loud crowd estimated at 4,500 fans at the TD Banknorth Garden in Boston.

So ended the almost four-month magical mystery tour of the AHS icemen.

Still, this group of Golden Warriors will leave as their legacy the best season in the 44-year history of the program.

Hanover accomplished what no other team had been able to in 25 previous games this season - holding Andover without a goal.

In fact, the last time Andover was shut out was 32 games ago by Haverhill, 2-0, on Feb. 8 of last year. It was also only the third shutout in 55 games stretching back three seasons.

North Sectional champ Andover finished the season with a 19-6-1 overall record, including four tournament wins, while senior-laden South titlist and former two-time state Division 3 champ Hanover checked out at a blistering 24-1-1.

State Division 2 Tournament

Championship Game

Hanover 2

Andover 0

Going into this game both coaches felt it would be low scoring and decided by a lucky break or two.

They couldn't have been more prophetic.

"We lost because the puck didn't bounce our way today," said Andover head coach Mario Martiniello. "It just wasn't our day. On another day we get the bounce and it's a whole different outcome.

"It was a back-and-forth game with great (scoring) opportunities and tremendous goaltending on both sides.

"Early on we had a couple of 3-on-1 breakaways and twice our top guy, Tucker (Mullin), went in on their goaltender (Doug Carr) alone.

"But he (Carr) is as good as advertised," said Martiniello. "He didn't have 12 shutouts (and a 0.83 goals-against average) this season for nothing. He's big, quick, follows the puck well and is agile around the net.

"(Mullin) made a terrific move on his second breakaway, cutting to the right and drawing the puck back. But it seemed like the goalie was sitting in Tucker's head because he read the play and caught the shot with his glove.

"Carr was clearly the difference in the game. Another goaltender and we could have been up 2-0 or 3-0 in the first period. And if we jump out to an early lead I'm thinking we're going to win that game."

"We wanted to put as many shots as possible on him," said Mullin. "We gave him some tough ones but he made the saves."

"Doug is the best high school goalie I've seen in three decades," said veteran Indians' coach Jim Sylvia. "He's smart, poised and focused. He's the best around.

"He was tested today," added Sylvia. "That first line of Andover's is as dangerous as any we faced all season. Mullin is a dynamic player.

"When it was Mullin going in against Doug 1-on-1 it was the classic confrontation. Today Doug was the winner."

"He's got great wheels," said Carr, speaking about Mullin. "We watched him on film and knew going in he would be dangerous whenever he had the puck."

Carr, who previously attended reigning State Division 1A champ Boston College High and also played Junior hockey for two years, had to be that sharp because he was opposed by another of the state's best netminders.

Abreu shines

"Our guy was excellent, too, as he's been all year," said Martiniello. "Danny Abreu (seven shutouts) was equal to the task."

The first Hanover goal by Charlie McGinnis, which turned out to be the gamewinner, came on a rebound with less than five minutes left in regulation (10:46 of third period) as he lifted a backhander over the prone Abreu.

"Danny made the original save and their kid got two more whacks at the puck before it went in," said Martiniello.

The insurance goal by Bill Ainslie on a 2-on-1 break was notched 2:17 later, with 1:57 to play and 18 seconds after a Hanover timeout.

Andover got caught while playing up in the attacking zone trying to apply pressure to score the equalizer.

"They scored that second one because time was running short and we were gambling - doing things we don't normally do - trying to tie it up," said Martiniello.

"Hanover didn't do anything different against our first line. Tucker Mullin had six or seven shots on net by himself - and both Colin (Brennan) and John (Hyslip) had a few Grade-A chances, too."

Carr made 26 saves and Abreu 20 as AHS held a slender 26-22 shooting edge.

"You get a little colder as a goalie when you don't face a lot of shots," said Abreu. "The first two periods were tough because there weren't that many chances. It makes it harder to stay focused."

"We're disappointed, for sure - but we accomplished alot," said Colin Brennan.

"I had as much fun as I've ever had this year," added Abreu.

"We worked hard all season and today it just didn't happen for us," said Mullin.

Lost with grace

"The kids took the loss well - in fact, better than I did," said Martiniello. "They know they worked hard and played a solid game.

"You never play a perfect game - and our mistakes, especially in a game of that magnitude, were minimal.

"It was most disappointing for the seniors - who talked to their teammates in the locker room after the game. Everybody kind of shook hands and thanked one another."

The Golden Warriors also huddled on the ice after the game.

"We (coaches) congratulated the players on a tremendous season and made sure they knew what they had accomplished," said Martiniello. "They should be very proud of themselves.

"We wanted to make sure the kids left the ice and the arena with their heads held high.

"We worked extremely hard from the beginning of the year to get to that point. Back in December I doubt anyone gave us a chance to be in the state final.

"We deserved to be there," added Martiniello. "We didn't get that far by luck."

Seeded No. 3 in a 17-school MIAA Division 2 North Tournament field three weeks ago, the Andover icemen began their unprecedented run with a pair of early-round victories over familiar foes Haverhill, 6-1, and Tewksbury, 4-1.

The title possibility came into sharp focus when the locals beat No. 2 seed Masconomet Regional of Topsfield, 3-0, in the North semifinals.

The Sectional crown became a reality when the Merrimack Valley/Dual County League Division 2 champs ended the Cinderella run of surprising 16th-seed Lynnfield.

The improbable Pioneers reached the final after barely qualifying at exactly .500, and then clicking off four straight wins including three in overtime and the semifinal in a shootout.

Lynnfield, which finished 14-11-2, proved no match for Andover which rolled to a lopsided 7-1 triumph.

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Third-year head coach Martiniello's local crew went 12-2 in its last 14 games, with the loss to Hanover snapping a five-game win streak.

Patriot League champ Hanover, seeded No. 2 in the South, allowed only one goal in four tourney games and the Indians reached the state final with consecutive tournament wins over Oliver Ames, 6-1, No. 3 seed Coyle-Cassidy, 1-0 in a triple-overtime shootout, and top seed Franklin, 1-0, in overtime.