Middleton, MA – We headed down to the Essex Sports Center once again on Tuesday for a Round of 16 matchup in the MIAA D3 tournament between the 24-seeded North Quincy Red Raiders and the 8-seeded Danvers Falcons. North Quincy entered this game flying high off a thrilling 5-4 double OT victory against Bishop Stang and this would be their biggest test of the playoff thusfar. Danvers was able to handle business with a 6-1 win over Southeastern in their first round matchup.
The first period started with juice from both sides which included some end-to-end action and some physical play down low in each end. Danvers took control after the opening minutes and put the pressure on with a couple chances on net but North Quincy was able to deal with any danger to keep the score tied at zero. We returned to end-to-end action as each side battled for possession with seven minutes to play in the period, Danvers looking more and more likely to take the lead. Danvers would take control towards the end of the period and get the game’s first goal off a rebound that would make its way to the back post for junior forward Trevor McNeill to put Danvers up 1-0 heading into the second.
Moving on to the second, Danvers would come out flying with a goal in the opening minute by senior defenseman Connor Horn who would receive a pass in the slot and get a shot off that would redirect off a body in front to give Danvers a 2-0 lead. The Falcons would be all over North Quincy to start the frame but the Red Raiders would get one back with 10 minutes to go from senior defenseman John Lynch. A quick shot from the point that would be redirected in front and beat the goalie blocker side to get North Quincy back in the game down 2-1. Danvers would come right back with one of their own from sophomore forward Caleb White with a backhand in the slot that would just beat the goalie low blocker side to give Danvers a 3-1 lead with five minutes to go. The period would have some more late chances for Danvers to extend their lead but North Quincy would escape only down by two going into the third.
Danvers would come out in the third just like they did in the second by making it difficult for North Quincy to get out of their zone and subsequently created some great chances to extend their lead in the opening minutes. Both sides would create more firewagon chances end-to-end halfway through the period with odd-man rushes and Grade A scoring opportunities at each end. Danvers would tack on another with three minutes to go from junior forward Michael DeLisio with a slap shot in the high slot that would beat the goalie low glove side to make it 4-1. Danvers would dispatch any North Quincy attack late in the period and seal this one with an empty netter with two minutes to go by Trevor McNeill, his second on the night, to send Danvers into the next round with a huge 5-1 win over North Quincy.
The Falcons will move on to play top-seeded Marlboro on the road in the Round of 8: location and date/time TBD.
Three Stars:
- F Trevor McNeill, Danvers
- D Connor Horn, Danvers
- F Caleb White, Danvers
