Boys' Hockey Loses Hard Fought Game to Pembroke

One team was making only it's second playoff appearance in the past 20 years, while the other was looking to defend its 2011 sectional title.

On paper it should have been a blow-out but on the ice it was a battle.

The final score read 5-1 to the Pembroke Titans but the Dover-Sherborn boys’ hockey team made the three seed work for everything and, but for three unlucky bounces, could have pulled off a huge upset in the first round of the Division 3 tournament at the Bridgewater Ice Arena Wednesday night. 

The Titans started quickly against a seemingly nervous D-S team in the first period, but went into the first intermission with only a 1-0 lead.

Just six seconds into the second period Pembroke appeared to break it open when Cullan Fitzgerald’s shot from outside the blue line snuck inside the post.

Instead of faltering, the goal seemed to spark life into the Raiders.

“The second period was awesome,” said Coach Jeff Moore. “Scoring chance after scoring chance, I was so proud of them for their effort. We stuck together and battled together as a team.”

In the second period D-S outshot Pembroke 12-5 and pushed the physical play up to another level.

It paid off when Cole Tibbets fed Jared Spence on a 2-on-1 with 5:37 left in the period. The captain made no mistake as he picked the top corner to cut the Titans’ lead in half.

Exactly two minutes later the Raiders should have been level when Spence slid a backhand pass into the path of Tibbets who sliced his shot wide from point blank range.

The missed opportunity became even more crucial when Fitzgerald - who had four goals on the night - scored a power play goal that slipped past the screened D-S goalie Corey Colangelo.

The loss may be disappointing, but Coach Moore was taking only positives out of his team's performance, “It leaves a bad taste in the mouth, but you have to use it as motivation for next year. I couldn’t be more proud of our kids. Knowing that we put forth all that effort and had all that good play - that’s something to be proud of and to be positive about.”

The Raiders played strong in the third period, but three minutes in Fitzgerald scored from outside the blue line again to close the door on D-S.

D-S finished Moore's first season as head coach with a record of 8-6-8.