Framingham, MA – The MHL Pat Serio Cup Consolation Game featured the Rams of Marshfield High School taking on the Panthers of Franklin High School.
The first period was full of back-and-forth action, with each team trading multiple scoring chances. Marshfield carried more of the zone time in the first half of the period. The Rams forwards did a good job of driving the net hard and getting pucks through to senior goalie Joe Torraco. Toracco and the Panthers kept Marshfield off the scoreboard and started generating some chances of their own. Franklin’s forwards did well with odd-man zone entries and the center driving the net to create Grade A scoring chances. Marshfield senior goalie Liam Fullam was solid making many point-bank saves, none better than the breakaway save he made with five minutes left in the period to keep it a 0-0 game. Franklin would go on the power play with four minutes to go, but Fullam and the Rams PK did their jobs and the period ended 0-0.
The second period was a much tighter checking frame. Both teams had a hard time getting to the net and creating scoring chances. The defensemen on both teams did a great job of taking time and space away from the opposing forwards. The game was 0-0, but with 3 minutes left, Franklin would break the tie. Senior captain Carter Balducci picked a Rams defenseman’s pocket at the blue line and went in all alone against Fullam. He went forehand to backhand and slid the puck home through the five-hole to give his team the 1-0 lead. Marshfield would get a chance to tie it with one minute left as they would go on the power play, and they took advantage of it. Torraco made a quick save and the rebound bounced out to the top of the crease. A scrum ensued and senior forward Sammy Holte was able to bang it home to get the Rams on the board with just 37 seconds left. The period wouldn’t end there, however. Franklin’s junior forward Drake McAlpine carried the puck the length of the sheet down the left wall and into the circle to the right of Fullam. With three seconds left, he ripped a shot past him from a tough angle to end the period and give the Panthers the 2-1 lead.
The Rams got an early power play at the beginning of the third period, looking to tie the game. They had some good looks but Toracco stood tall and the Panthers killed off the penalty. The teams traded chances and hits and with 10 minutes left, the Rams would tie the game. Freshman Caden Altobello won a puck battle to the left of Torraco, he threw the puck to the front of the net and it deflected off a Franklin player and ended up bouncing past Torraco. Each team had a power play chance over the next five minutes, but the game would remain tied. With two minutes left, Franklin thought they had the go-ahead goal, but it was called back because of a hand pass.
The third period ended in a 2-2 tie, and the 4-on-4 overtime period followed. There was a good flow to the OT period with more space on the ice. Both teams had their chances to end it early, but both goalies made some key saves late and the game would end in a 2-2 tie on the scoresheet. A well-played game by both sides.
Three Stars:
- F Carter Balducci, Franklin
- G Joe Torraco, Franklin
- G Liam Fullam, Marshfield