Cheshire Hands Wilton Boys Hockey Heartbreaking Loss

The Wilton boys hockey team was on the precipice of doing something it had never done before, but then Cheshire's best player broke the Warriors' heart.

Owen Powers scored both of the Rams' goals Monday, including a deflection 8:34 into overtime that gave No. 2 seed Cheshire a 2-1 victory in the Division II semifinals at the Ingalls Rink.

It was a perfectly executed play that ended the season for Wilton, which was looking to reach the state finals for the first time in school history.

Powers, who scored on a breakaway late in the first period to open the scoring, took a centering feed from William Devine and snapped a one-timer between the legs of Wilton goaltender Kevin O'Connell.

The Rams, used to playing in big games, advanced to their second final in three years and eighth overall.

Cheshire which won state championships in 1978, 2006 and 2009, will face Guilford, a 4-2 winner over Trumbull, in Friday's title match.

"It's really disappointing in terms of outcome, but it's certainly not disheartening because I think they (his team) played a really solid game with a lot of heart," Wilton coach Brett Amero said.

"The truth is, Cheshire played a great game, too, and it could have gone either way."

Early on, it appeared Cheshire had an advantage, but the third-seeded Warriors (12-10-1) matched up well against the bigger Rams, who were frustrated by Wilton's defense-first approach.

"They really played the trap well," Powers said. "We weren't expecting it, especially the first couple minutes. We didn't really know what to do with it. Congratulations to them. They played really hard."

Wilton didn't surrender a shot a full strength until just over two minutes remaining in the first period. At 12:09, however, the Warriors did allow Powers to break in alone on a four-on-four and he gave the Rams a 1-0 lead.

"Our defense is that way," Amero said. "They are very protective of the net. Typically, that's our approach. It's kind of the real backbone of our team, the defense."

The Warriors got the equalizer at 3:26 of the second, when Alex Pagliaro banged in a rebound after Cheshire goalie Tyler Carbone made the original save on Dillon Pastorello.

In Friday's 2-1 quarterfinal win over East Catholic, the Warriors rode the hot goaltending of Kevin O'Connell. But on Monday, Wilton had the better scoring chances and it was Carbone who kept his team in the game, especially in the third period.

Late in the second with Wilton on the power play, Dillon Pastorello was on th doorstep looking at an open net, but couldn't get his stick on the puck.

Wilton then dominated most of third period, out-shooting Cheshire 8-0 before the Rams generated their first shot of the stanza with just under four minutes remaining.

"(Wilton) did a great job," Cheshire coach Jim Riccitelli said. "They took up space and didn't give us an open look at the goal. They had a good game plan. They have some talented kids. We were fortunate to keep them off the board. Their defenseman can really shoot the puck."

O'Connell finished with 21 saves while Carbone turned aside 24 shots for the Rams, including 10 in a scoreless third period.

"They played a good game," Amero added. "I couldn't ask for anything more except a win."

O'Connell was called upon to make a couple big saves in the final two minutes of the regulation.

He made a kick save on Ryan Powers' wrister from the right circle with 1:59 left, then made a glove on Spencer Hackett's tricky shot from just inside the blue line with 13 seconds remaining.

Cheshire outshot Wilton 6-2 in the overtime.