A terrific hockey game between two evenly-matched teams, in which the Marblehead Headers outlasted the Methuen Rangers in Saturday’s 3-1 final at Rocket Arena at Salem State University.
The Headers entered as the No. 6 seed, with Methuen close behind at No. 11.
It was a late-arriving crowd, but one that nearly reached capacity by opening puck-drop. Marblehead had the geographic advantage, leading the majority of the crowd to favor the hosts.
The game was particularly fast-paced, specifically in the first period. Methuen was forced to overcome an early penalty for interference and endure Marblehead’s aggressive start.
Despite controlling much of the possession in the first period, the Headers failed to capitalize on the penalty opportunity. Three critical, early saves by Rangers’ goalie Owen O’Brien left things scoreless after one.
But Methuen came out firing in the second, with two immediate shots on goal. Shortly thereafter, the visitors received a power play with 11:36 on the clock via an interference call against Marblehead.
They cashed in. A goal was scored at the 11:03 mark of the second period by senior forward Dominic Romano, assisted by junior forward Aiden Cashman.
Overall, Marblehead had been on the offensive throughout the first two periods, and Methuen on the defensive. This proved itself even further once Methuen led 1-0 by the second intermission.
Frankly, Marblehead had been on the attack throughout Saturday’s entirety, yet no shots could find the back of the net.
But with 9:33 to go, exactly one minute after the conclusion of a penalty, junior forward James Caeran finally put the Headers on the board (1-1). The dedicated faithful got something to cheer for, at long last.
The cheering intensified shortly after, as senior defenseman Hogan Sedky followed Caeran’s goal with one of his own just 1:43 later, leading to a 2-1 Marblehead lead.
The perseverance and aggressiveness of the Headers was finally starting to pay off, and momentum was theirs.
Another interference penalty – this time against Marblehead with 3:25 left in the final period – gave Methuen one last chance to tie things up.
Marblehead stood strong, surviving the man-down stretch. Methuen, running out of time, pulled its goalie in hopes of a miracle.
But from there, senior forward Charlie Grenier got a free lane to the open cage, sealing it with the game’s final goal with 56 seconds to go.
Methuen’s season came to a close, while Marblehead advanced to Wednesday’s Division 3 Sweet 16 (no score by press time).