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Raiders fall to Austin Prep, face must-win Super 8 game

Sunday, March, 01 By David Willis
Staff writer

LOWELL — The positive news for the Central Catholic hockey team is that it still has life in the Super 8 tournament.

The negative, however, is that there is a great deal of work to be done for the Raiders to keep their tourney run alive.

Trailing by one goal but controlling the game, Central allowed Austin Prep to strike for a goal with five seconds remaining in the second period, and the No. 3 Cougars carried that momentum to a 3-0 victory over the No. 6 Raiders in the opening game of the Super 8 on Sunday at the Tsongas Center.

“We had our chances in this game,” said Central coach Mike Jankowski. “But we just could not execute when we needed to. Especially in the second, we had chances to take control and we didn’t take advantage. When Austin had their chances, they executed.”

The Raiders now faces elimination in Game 2 of their best-of-three series against Austin Prep. The two teams will face off on Wednesday, with the location and time TBA. An Austin victory would send the Cougars to the Super 8 semifinals and end Central’s season. A Raiders victory would force a decisive Game 3 scheduled for Thursday.

Austin swept Central in two games in last year’s Super 8 first round on the way to dropping the title game to Malden Catholic.

“They played a very tough game and I think Central did an excellent job of slowing down our offense,” said Austin coach Louis Finocchiaro. “We controlled the first, they outplayed us in the second and the third was back-and-fourth. We just capitalized a few more times.”

Austin opened the game in dynamic fashion on Sunday, scoring just 1:12 into the game, and outshot the Raiders 9-2 after one period.

But Central Catholic bounced right back in the second, dominating the puck for a 14-3 shot advantage. But despite the attack, the Raiders could not solve Cougars goalie Dylan Regan.

The freshman netminder — who faced the task of replacing Haverhill’s Elijah Harris — stoned Central time after time, the best save when he barely deflected away an Eric Robbins wrister from the slot. He also halted a blast by Boston University recruit Jake Wise and again turned away Robbins on a 2-on-1.

“Their goalie made some huge stops,” said Jankowski. “But we also have to be able to execute. We sustained pressure the whole period, but we couldn’t find the back of the net. I give their goalie credit, but we have to finish.”

Central goalie Pat Schena added a huge save of his own late in the period, sprawling to stop a breakaway. But just as it seemed the Raiders would enter the break with momentum, Austin struck for a goal with just five second remaining in the second.

“That hurt,” said Jankowski. “To give up a goal with five seconds left after playing such a good period was rough. We played very well in the second, but we just couldn’t get the job done.”

Central continued to apply pressure in the third, but Regan kept them off the boards. Austin finished off the scoring with 7:17 to ice the victory.

“On Wednesday, we have to play like we did in the second period (Sunday),” said Jankowski. “We have to use our speed, create scoring opportunities and take advantage.”