Hanover 3, Wayland 0: Stymied in the semis
By Dan CagenDaily News staff
Mar 12, 2014 at 10:13 PM Mar 13, 2014 at 5:13 PM
BOURNE — Before the game, Nick Morgan went into the Wayland dressing room with words of encouragement.
The junior forward went in between periods as well.
"Everybody was just glad to see him," Wayland captain Marcus Daisy said. "We didn't expect to see him in the locker room before the game."
Morgan, who has a broken right collarbone and may need surgery, was lost for the season three minutes into the Warriors' Division 3 North final win over Newton South last Saturday.
So although Morgan was present at Gallo Arena on Wednesday evening, it was not where the Warriors needed him the most — on the ice, pumping in goals from the slot.
Morgan led MVC/DCL Division 3 with 27 goals and 43 points.
Although Wayland eked past Newton South 3-2 without Morgan for the final 42 minutes to win the sectional, the Warriors couldn't come up with the offense Wednesday to get to TD Garden and the state championship game.
Hanover is the club going to Causeway Street after a 3-0 victory in the state semifinals.
"We needed guys to step up," Wayland coach Rian Murray said. "Nick had 27 goals, so we needed guys to fill that. I think maybe a few guys felt added pressure. I mean, it's a big stage, and we needed some goals from other people and guys have to step up and fill that void.
"Tonight, it just didn't work out."
The Warriors, who finished at 15-6-3, had their chances. After Hanover (18-7-0) — which will face Westfield or Shrewsbury in the state final Sunday morning at the Garden — took a 1-0 lead at 3:44 of the second period, Wayland controlled the rest of the period.
Wayland had a 10-5 shots on net advantage in the period. The Warriors jammed around the crease for a few chances before Indians goalie Noah Clapp (25 saves) froze the puck. Wayland's Scott Carvalho was edged off a breakaway by a Hanover defenseman.
By the third period, Hanover limited Wayland to the outside. The Warriors' chance had passed by. Hanover iced the game with a Matt McDougall goal at 6:18 and an empty-netter from Pat Nevins, his second of the night.
"It was a 1-0 game and if we score in that flurry, it's a totally different game," Murray said. "I think we have some momentum going forward. That's how hockey is. It's a game of momentum and a game of mistakes. You have your chances, you have to capitalize, and tonight we didn't."
It didn't help that the Warrior who's best at finishing those chances was watching in a windbreaker, reduced to the role of cheerleader.
"It was definitely rough playing without Nick. He was our top goal-scorer this year," Daisy said. "But at the same time, he kind of gave us some inspiration, something to rally around. We had him to play for as well as ourselves and the seniors. But there is no replacing Nick Morgan. You can't really replace a guy like that."
It brought an end to another good season for Wayland, which won the MVC/DCL Div. 3 title for the first time since 2001.
That put more hardware in the trophy case for a senior class that also captured its second sectional title in three years. Two years ago, Wayland also reached the state semifinals.
"I thought it was a great run," Murray said. "Couldn't be more proud of these guys. These seniors, they have two D3 North titles. This game, it's their second time getting to this game. They've brought a lot of experience, a lot of grit. I thought they held people accountable and they led by example. We're really going to miss them."
The Warriors' group of six seniors includes Daisy, alternate captain Roby Williams, Charlie Cope and Peter Christakis as well as goalies Ben Boschetto and AJ Love.
"After our freshman year, everyone said our freshman year was the only year we would do anything, especially in playoffs," Daisy said. "We proved that wrong my sophomore year by making it to the state semifinals and again this year by making it to the state semifinals. Looking back, I couldn't be prouder to play with the group of guys that I have and to have had the success that we've had.
"For a lot of kids, they can't say that they've made it this far. To say that I've made it twice, it's amazing."
Dan Cagen can be reached at 508-626-3848 or dcagen@wickedlocal.com. Follow him on Twitter @DanCagen