North Billerica, MA – Behind a sensational performance by senior goaltender Maxwell Marchionna, the Bedford Bucs moved on to the D3 final four with a 3-0 win over Essex Tech.
The first two periods were played up and down. Essex Tech Hawks goaltender Teagan Moreau made some solid stops, and Marchionna ended the first period with a “Superman-style” diving stop to keep the game tied at 0-0. Many in the stands wondered when the dam would break but neither team could find the back of the net through 30 minutes.
The 14 Bedford seniors went to work in the third period, however. After Marchionna made two sensational saves in tight, senior Ryan McGrath fired a slapshot through traffic for the first goal. Ryan went with the fishing celly. Senior Logan Cox assisted on the play. It was 1-0 Bedford with 12:27 left in the third. Two minutes and a second later, Cox intercepted a pass in the slot and fired the puck into the top of the net. It was 2-0 Bucs and with the way their goalie and defense, led by Charles Demeo were playing, it seemed a daunting task for the Hawks. It was, in fact, too much and Bedford played a meticulous game for the rest of the period. With the Essex Tech goalie pulled, Cox deposited his second goal into the empty net, and it was time to celebrate for the Bedford Bucs.
Notes From Coach Murph: Bedford’s Charles Demeo was the best player on the ice by a lot. He could have been a factor if he had played in the later Division 1 game. Bedford was extremely well-coached, and their seniors showed patience and poise to get a terrific win against a tough opponent.
Three Stars
- G Maxwell Marchionna, Bedford
- F Logan Cox, Bedford
- D Charles Demeo, Bedford