Waltham, MA – Bentley University was the site of the MIAA D1 play-in game between the 7-12-1 Hawks of Waltham HS and the 14-4-3 Minutemen of Lexington HS. This was the final game of the evening following 7 other play-in games across the state and it was one of the more anticipated matchups of the night. Waltham entered as the 32 seed and Lexington entered as the 33 seed, with the winner moving on to play top-seeded St. John’s Prep later in the week. The building was packed and the atmosphere was electric…playoff hockey has arrived in the Commonwealth!
Waltham came out of the gate flying in the first. They controlled most of the period and had sustained pressure in the Lexington end. Lexington junior goalie Luke Dinsmore was the difference. He was a brick wall the whole period making save after save keeping Waltham off the scoreboard. With 3:30 to go Lexington would go on the power play. Senior defenseman Matt Troy fired a shot from the blue line that was tipped in by junior Nolan Kingsbury giving Lexington the 1-0 lead. The lead would be shortlived, however when Waltham’s senior forward Drew Anderson received a pass inside the circle from senior Philip Sarkissian and ripped a shot on Dinsmore. It appeared Dinsmore had stopped it at first, but it slowly trickled through his pads and over the goal line. The period would end 1-1.
Lexington wasted no time getting on the board 15 seconds into the second period when senior forward Cullen Pitts hit senior captain Liam Hunt in-stride down the right side and he beat the Waltham goalie Aiden Breau short side high to take the lead 2-1. Both teams traded chances for the first half of the period. With 6:39 to go, Waltham senior Nick George got a pass coming off the side wall from senior Dylan McKay and he blew one past Dinsmore to tie the game 2-2. Two minutes later Lexington would strike back. Adam O’Shaughnessy tipped home a Troy point shot giving them the lead 3-2. Waltham roared back 30 seconds later when George got a pass from junior defender Evan Cormier and banged it home at the top of the crease to tie the game at 3-3. It was anyone’s game entering the third period.
Both teams came out strong and had some scoring chances to start the third, but Lexington would take the lead with 8:00 to go. Senior forward Russ LeBert tipped a shot from junior John Donaghy past Breau to take the 4-3 lead. Waltham’s George was taken down on a breakaway and awarded a penalty shot with three minutes to go. Lexington’s Dinsmore would stay big and challenge, forcing him to miss the net and the game would stay 4-3: a big momentum shifter. Lexington junior Andy Yang would pick up the puck high in Waltham’s zone and go in alone beating Breau 5-hole for the 5-3 lead minutes later. Waltham pulled Breau and pressed Lexington but ultimately fell short as Kingsbury would finish the game with the empty net goal sealing the 6-3 victory over the Hawks.
This upset win for Lexington earned them a spot in the Round of 32, where they will take on the defending State Champs, the top seeded St. John’s Prep Eagles on Wednesday at 6:40pm at Essex Sports Center.
Three Stars:
- D Matt Troy, Lexington
- F Nolan Kingsbury, Lexington
- G Luke Dinsmore, Lexington