Hanover Outlasts Medway 2-1, Punches Ticket to Final Four in D3 MIAA Tournament

Buzzards Bay, MA – We stuck around at Gallo Arena for another Elite 8 game that would determine who would face Scituate in a Final Four matchup in the D3 State Tournament, where a trip to the TD Garden will be on the line. In this game, the 3-seed Hanover Hawks met the 6-seed Medway Mustangs in Bourne for a chance to punch that ticket. The game started off with both teams feeling each other out. Medway had the first momentum shift when they generated zone time, but Hanover weathered the storm. The Mustangs built off this and found the scoreboard first with a goal from big body forward Nathan VanSaun who was in a soft spot netfront and put home a rebound. Later in the first Hanover would even up the score with a snipe from freshman defenseman Nate Patch that hit the back bar. Both teams would trade opportunities but the first would end deadlocked at 1-1.Β 

The second period would start with Hanover generating momentum by getting the puck deep and keeping Medway hemmed in their own zone. They continued to keep their foot on the gas pedal and wore down Medway in their own end. Medway weathered the storm and some Hawks penalty trouble created some opportunities for them. Hanover did not back down and capitalized on a 4-on-4 where senior speedster Max DaSilva won a draw and beat the defender wide and slid the puck past the Medway goaltender to give Hanover a 2-1 lead. Hanover would carry this lead until the end of the period, setting up for a big third period.Β 

The third period began with chances for both teams. Medway began to build some momentum early in the period. Hanover would not let them sustain it and continued on the attack. They got pucks deep and kept things simple. Hanover weathered the storm and would ride out the 2-1 lead all the way until the end of the game. This earned the Hawks a spot in the D3 Final Four. They will take on rival Scituate for the right to play for the Final at the TD Garden.

Three Stars:Β 

  1. F Max DaSilva, Hanover
  2. D Nate Patch, HanoverΒ 
  3. F Nathan VanSaun, Medway