By STEPHEN MARTELLUCCI
SENIOR CAPTAIN COREY COLLINS takes on his opponent. The boys varsity hockey team fell to Haverhill in the MIAA Division 2 North semi–finals. (Stephanie Tannian Photo)
CHELMSFORD — A fine season came to an end for the North Reading High hockey team on March 4 as they were nipped, 2–1, by Haverhill in the MIAA Division 2 North semifinals at the Chelmsford Forum in front of a huge crowd.
With that loss, the second–seeded Hornets ended the year at 18–4. The 11th–seeded Hillies, meanwhile, lost to Concord-Carlisle, 4–1, in the North final on Monday night at the Tsongas Center in Lowell to end the year at 11–8–5.
Mike Gleason was the story in this one as the Hillie goalie stood on his head making 44 saves.
“He won the game for them,” stated Hornets head coach John Giuliotti, about Gleason. “It was a one–sided game and we dominated everything except the scoreboard.”
The Hornets scored the first goal of the game while Pat Driscoll beat Gleason with 6:04 left in the first period. That tally was unassisted.
Haverhill tied it on the power play early in the second period. Josh Goldstein had the tally at the 1:23 mark assisted by Cam Berube and Kyle Gosselin. Gosselin then got the game-winning goal with 3:26 left in the second also on the power play. Goldstein and Eric Michitson both assisted.
With a little over a minute in the game, Giuliotti pulled goalie Nick Ponte for the extra attacker but the Hillies were able to hold on. The best chance in the final minute came when Driscoll hit the post.
The Hornets outshot the Hillies on goal, 45–21, as Ponte made 19 saves.
I was proud of the way we played but (Gleason) had one of those nights to remember,” said Giuliotti.
