Watertown, MA – This Sunday matinee featured the Cardinals of Pope Francis High School taking on the Belmont Marauders at the JAR in Watertown. Pope Francis controlled this game from the drop of the puck notching a 7-0 win.
Although the score was only 2-0, the first period was dominated by Pope Francis, and it could have been more if it wasn’t for some timely stops by Belmont’s freshman goalie Ethan Bauer. Pope would take the lead with 11:52 to go in the period. Junior Nick Petkovich was on the doorstep and banged home a rebound from senior captain Zach Buffone. One minute later Pope would extend their lead to 2-0. Senior captain Jake Petrin swung around the net and found captain Jake Jarrell open at the point. Jarrell walked down and fired a shot that found some space over Bauer’s shoulder. Belmont only had a couple minutes of offensive zone time but Bauer made some key saves keeping the game 2-0.
Belmont came out more physical to start the second, creating some offensive chances early. They started beating Pope’s defensemen to pucks and created a few offensive chances, but junior goalie Nick Ritchie made all the saves to keep them off the board. With 12:41 to go, Petkovich netted his second goal of the game with an absolute snipe short side created by a great royal road pass from senior Mossy Kearney. Just a minute later sophomore Max Monroe threw a harmless puck to the net from the point but somehow it found its way by Bauer to give Pope the 4-0 lead. Pope continued to push the pace all period and with 26 seconds left, Petrin picked up a puck in the neutral zone and went in all alone on Bauer beating him with a quick snapshot far side. The period ended at 5-0.
Belmont relieved Bauer in the 3rd with sophomore Quinn Harrington, at least for a few minutes until an equipment issue forced him to the bench. Junior Owen McKinley would finish the period in net. Pope continued to dominate and carried the play for the third period. They got on the board again with 11:26 to go. Kearney carried the puck into Belmont’s zone sliding a pass to Petkovich on the corner of the crease who found sophomore Joe Orszulak at the back door and he tapped it into the empty net. Under a minute later Orszulak would get his second goal of the game as he got a pass at the top of the crease from sophomore Liam Dolan and went bar down to make it 7-0, and that’s how the game would end. Pope Francis was just too much for Belmont to handle today and dominated the possession in today’s game.
Three Stars:
- F Nick Petkovich, Pope Francis
- F Mossy Kearney, Pope Francis
- F Jake Petrin, Pope Francis