MARLBORO – Billerica knew its loaded offense, which had scored in double digits in all however one in all its earlier 19 video games, would begin clicking on all cylinders finally to get some separation.
And as senior captain Adam Priest places it – once they’re sizzling, they’re sizzling.
That’s precisely what the top-seeded Indians (21-1) confirmed in a Div. 2 state semifinal at Assabet Valley on Wednesday night time, scoring 4 straight targets over the ultimate 14 minutes to snap a late tie and defeat No. 5 Mansfield, 10-7.
Priest (two targets, help) scored each of his targets within the fourth quarter, including to a well-balanced assault that featured a hat trick from sophomore Daniel Venezia and two targets from sophomore Jackson Gearin. Protection wore a potent Hornets assault down within the meantime, shutting them down after they tied the sport up late within the third quarter.
Billerica strikes one win away from its first state title since 2001, set to face No. 6 Studying at Mass Maritime Academy.
“We’ve been battle tested all year,” stated Indians head coach Ryan Nickerson. “(Mansfield is) really, really good. We knew we were going to be in for a battle, we knew it wasn’t going to be an easy one. We were just waiting for the offense to kind of break through. … I knew once we could pull ahead, we’d be able to keep possession of the ball.”
“I think we’re just disciplined,” Priest added. “We stick with it. We’re always pushing each other to get better. We bicker here and there, but it’s just the game, it’s just brotherhood. … Now Reading is next, and it’s going to be a good game, for sure. It’s going to be a dog fight..”
Offense got here aplenty in a back-and-forth first quarter. Objectives from Cole Gibson, Nico Smith and Andrew DiGirolamo gave Mansfield (20-2) a 3-2 lead as Smith dominated faceoffs, however Venezia tied it up earlier than targets from Gearin and Nathaniel Telep put the Indians forward 5-3.
Offense from there was a lot tougher to return by – up till the final 14 minutes.
Tommy Vallett (purpose, help) despatched the Hornets’ crowd right into a frenzy along with his game-tying purpose late within the third quarter. Billerica wanted solely two minutes to reply, re-taking the lead, 7-6, on Venezia’s second purpose of the sport.
The Indians locked in from there, competing properly on faceoffs and controlling possession for lengthy stints. Venezia’s purpose with 9:15 left doubled the result in 8-6, and Priest tallied his first lower than two minutes later.
Billerica held possession for a lot of the subsequent 5 minutes, and Priest’s purpose to make it 10-6 proved the dagger in a 4-0 run.
“We had our runs, then they had their run,” Priest stated. “Once we got going again, it kind of is just unstoppable from there. Once we get hot, there’s no stopping (it).”
Nickerson raved concerning the protection afterward. The Indians had been the primary group to carry Mansfield beneath 10 targets all yr.
Nolan Heffernan had eight saves, and Caden Canney did properly to restrict All-American Cole Hogencamp to 2 targets for the Hornets.
“Our defense was awesome,” Nickerson stated. “Caden Canney was awesome. Mike Rizzuto was phenomenal his first half – he kept us in it for the first half. And (Cameron) Penti, second half on faceoffs, was – he just adjusted. He was really resilient tonight. … That may be the best offense we’ve seen all year.”
Six totally different gamers scored targets for Billerica.
“We have great depth,” Priest stated. “We can play anyone, any game – doesn’t matter. We’re always looking to feed, always looking to get points. It’s not who needs this goal, who needs that goal – it’s just whoever’s open, we’re throwing it. No one is selfish.”
