Melrose slips to Chelmsford in overtime, 2-1
THE MELROSE Red Raider hockey team fell in the opening round of Div. 1 North playoffs in a heartbreaking 2-1 overtime loss to Chelmsford. (Donna Larsson photo)
By JENNIFER GENTILE
MELROSE — After ending their rival’s playoff journey two years straight, one could argue that the Melrose High Red Raider hockey team had Chelmsford High’s number. But it was a reversal of fortune on Thursday, Feb. 26 at O’Brien Rink in Woburn when # 7 seed Melrose fell to the #10 seed Chelmsford Lions (11-9-1), 2-1 in sudden death overtime, ending their Div. 1 North playoff run in the opening round of play.
The game-winning goal was a backhanded shot by Chelmsford junior Mario Serra just 47 seconds into the extra stanza. Melrose, and their many fans on hand, seemed stunned at the twist of fate.
“They did a nice job with a 3 on 2 and it was a back hander – it’s a tough shot to defend and he found the far post,” said Melrose head coach Vin Mirasolo after the game. “They’re a good team, I thought it would be a one-goal game. And it was.”
The Raiders had battled back from a 1-0 deficit that lasted two periods before senior captain Jack Hickey struck with 30 seconds left in the second period to tie it up. It would be Melrose’s only goal of the game.
The Raiders, however, threatened to blow open the gridlock in the waning seconds of regulation when they descended on Lion goalie Blake Alber with a flurry during a power play but none of them getting past Alber. The result was a six minute sudden death period that required less than a minute to send Melrose home.
The Lions had been first to strike when Mitch Smith scored a rebound shot past Melrose goalie Tyler Brown at 7:51 in the first. Melrose struggled to find the net in the second but thankfully senior captain Jake Karelas helped shut down Lion offense on the blue line.
Two goals notwithstanding Melrose goalie Tyler Brown had a stellar game for Melrose with over 20 saves in the contest, which could have gotten out of hand a number of times. Brown pulled off four saves in the first period alone with the Lions maintained puck possession and some incredible saves in the second. By the third, Brown fended off a flurry of shots to help secure overtime.
“I thought Tyler did a nice job and unfortunately Chelmsford also did a nice job tonight too,” said Mirasolo.
Melrose came out blazing both in the final minute of regulation and in the opening seconds of sudden death. At least a dozen shots were fired upon the Lions’ Alber.
“I thought we put a lot of pressure on, in the zone, we sort of emptied the tank and their goalie came up with some big saves,” comments Mirasolo. “We worked hard and hit 3 or 4 posts but it didn’t go our way. That’s playoff hockey.”
