By STEPHEN MARTELLUCCI
WESTON — The season came to an end for the Northeast Metro Tech boys’ hockey team on Sunday evening as they lost, 4-1, to host Dover-Sherborn at the Rivers School in Weston in the MIAA Division 4 Round of 16.
With the defeat, the 19th-seeded Golden Knights ended the season at 14-8. The 3rd-seeded Raiders, meanwhile, improved to 13-8-2.
The Raiders got off to a great start scoring two goals in the first 3:46 of the game. They scored their first goal just 18 seconds in and made it 2-0 with 11:14 left.
“We faced adversity early and struggled to work through it,” admitted Knights head coach Brian Capistran.
Sam Hinckley had the first Raider goal on a tipped home an Andrew Cahill shot.
The second goal was scored by Max Patenaude assisted by Christos Rogaris.
The Raiders made it 3-0 with 12:21 remaining in the second as Felix Giesen scored.
Northeast’s lone tally came with 10:46 left in the second on a goal from Wakefield resident Cash Kearney assisted by George MacKinnon and Ryan Stringer.
Dover-Sherborn then put the game away scoring with 7:13 left in the game on a goal by Ethan Fiore.
This game was very chippy on both sides as the Raiders were called for 10 penalties while Northeast took over 15 penalties.
“Unfortunately, we reverted to our bad habits from last season when faced with adversity, we were taking unnecessary penalties and losing focus instead of staying disciplined,” said Capistran. “This is something we had improved on significantly this year.”
The Raiders out-shot the Knights 35-13, as Northeast goalie, Will Baker made 31 saves.
In the first round on Feb. 27, the Knights won, 2-1 over host Martha’s Vineyard at the Martha’s Vineyard Arena.
This was a great win considering the length of the trip for the team.
“We left school at 10:30 a.m. took the 1:15 p.m. ferry from Woods Hole, and arrived on the island at 2 p.m.,” explained Capistran. “After a short bus ride to the rink, the boys had a light lunch, got their legs back, and were ready to go. After the game, we reversed the trip home, getting back to the school at 11:15 p.m.”
In the first period, Scott Johnson scored at 6:12, assisted by Jaden Silva and Shane Moran.
Northeast then made it 2-0 at the 11:57 mark as Kearney lit the lamp assisted by MacKinnon.
Adrian Alberghini got the home team on the scoreboard with 10:02 left in the game scoring on a breakaway.
With 1:37 left, MV goalie Henry Wansiewicz, was pulled for the extra skater. They then had a six-on-four advantage on a Knight penalty moments later.
The Vineyarders appeared to tie it on a one-timer in the slot as the final buzzer sounded. Despite the goal-line official initially calling it a goal, another referee, at center ice, waived it off for being after the buzzer as the Knights escaped.
Northeast out-shot the Vineyarders 28-26, as Baker made 25 stops.
Martha’s Vineyard, the 14th-seed, ended the year at 9-10-2.