Bulldogs Play Strong Third, But Win Bounces Away

Locked in a 1-1 battle heading into the third period, the boys hockey team came out on fire in the third period and quickly went up 2-1, but bad bounces and unfinished opportunities led Milton Academy to upend their rival 4-2 on Sunday.

With the win, Milton Academy clinched third place in the 46th Flood Marr Holiday Tournament.

The Bulldogs (6-2) jumped out to a 2-1 lead 1:28 into the third period on the power play. Brandon Shea took a feed from Andrew Doane and ripped a shot from the left circle and into the top shelf of the cage. The Bulldog's second goal with the man advantage gave them the momentum - for a moment.

"The kids were able to take advantage of the high pressure that Milton uses [on the penalty kill]," coach Brian Day said.

Milton Academy came back quickly and knotted the game at 2-2 at the 11:22 mark. Nobles defenseman Mike Reardon, of Dedham, went down with an apparent shoulder injury on the play and was skating toward the bench when Milton's Dan Merenich scored.

"While he was trying to get off the ice, they scored," Day said.

Nobles captain Matthew Harlow had an extended conversation following the goal with officials.

Reardon would return later in the game, but with noticeably less strength in his shooting and passing.

After that goal, Milton amped up the physicality and capitalized on the momentum. The swing toward the Mustangs climaxed when during a scrum on the side boards, the puck sailed toward the net with no Milton players around. The puck flew past Nobles goalie Mason Pulde, bounced off junior defenseman Tim Boyle and tricked into the Nobles net.

"You're not always going to get the breaks," Day said after the game. "We have a good, strong defensive core. They work hard."

Milton's George Pantazopolous was given credit for the goal, with Woody Hudson receiving an assist at the 7:42 mark. 

Nobles had several opportunities to score as they fired 13 shots, unofficially, on netminder  Dan Bowen. Several chances just missed a Bulldog stick and several big rebounds didn't have a blue jersey near it. 

With an extra attacker in the final two minutes, Bowen saved an initial slap shot and left a giant rebound as he tumbled over two Milton defenders. With the net open, the puck sailed just out of the reach of Shea and to the boards. 

The Mustangs tallied an empty-net strike from T.J. Schneider with 1:11 left and buried their rivals.

"Milton is a very good hockey team," Day said. 

For the Bulldogs, it means their second loss of the season - both came in the Flood Marr Tournament - and a hiatus until Dec. 30 to work on finishing shots and playing a full 45-minute hockey game, Day said.

"I thought we played together much better in the third than we did the first two periods," Day said. "We need to be more consistent with that to beat good teams."