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Andover tops Central in emotional win

Saturday, February, 19 By David Willis
Staff writer

TEWKSBURY — Andover’s Liam Centrella had just a spit second to watch the puck enter the net before being mugged on the boards by his teammates.

“I had an angle and I saw it trickle in,” said Centrella. “Then I couldn’t help but celebrate. It was total madness.”

With 55 seconds left in the game, Centrella attacked the net and scored one of the most dramatic goals in Andover hockey history, giving the Golden Warriors a 3-2 upset victory over arhcirval Central Catholic, the No. 9 team in Eastern Mass., last night.

This was Andover’s first game since longtime head hockey coach Mario Martiniello was let go by the program less than a week ago.

“It was just amazing to win this game,” said emotional interim head coach Scott Manty. “What the kids came out and did tonight was overwhelming. We are just ecstatic, overwhelmed with happiness.”

Andover led 2-1 after two periods, but the Raiders struck back to tie the game 2-2 with 11:07 left in the game. The two teams then exchanged chances, with the Warriors’ Kyle Berthiaume and Central’s Kyle Williams each making big saves.

But with just under a minute to play, Centrella picked up a loose puck and aggressively attacked the goal before sliding it under the goalie and into the net.

“With a minute left you just have to get a puck on the net,” he said. “This will be one of the greatest memories in out hockey careers. And it couldn’t have come at a better time for us.”

Co-captain Matt Swett, who was skating alongside Centrella, was one of the first to leap on the winger after the tally.

“Liam made a great play to get it on net,” said Swett, who had two assists. “We are just thrilled. It was a great feeling, with so much emotion. We pulled together and won the game.”

Central did have a pair of opportunities in the closing seconds, but Berthiaume made a pair of big stops and Swett managed to clear the puck as time expired.

This marked Andover’s first victory over Central Catholic since the 2005-06 season. The Golden Warriors were 0-5-3 against their rival since that victory.

“To beat a team like Central Catholic is really special,” said Manty, who was a member of Martiniello’s staff for all seven of his seasons with the program.

“It meant so much to these seniors, to do it here in front of this great crowd. We just had to keep it positive, and we knew if we kept forcing it and forechecking we would have an opportunity to put it in the net. And Liam did it.”

The Golden Warriors jumped out to a 1-0 lead 4:03 into play. Centrella took a pass from Swett to the left of the net and managed to bank the puck into the net off the goalie’s pads.

Central Catholic responded with a shorthanded goal by Kevin Poulin. Luke Walker gave Andover the lead again in the second, but Mike Kelleher tied the game early in the third, setting up Centrella’s heroics.

As the final seconds ticked off the clock, the Golden Warriors poured onto the ice and celebrated on the ice in front of their crowd. They continued emotional embraces as they made their way to the locker room.

With three games remaining in the regular season, Andover needs just two points to earn a playoff berth. A victory or two ties would send them to the tournament.

“I have been in some games that have gone down to the wire,” said Centrella. “But this was something else. This was a special game.”