Wolverines Win in Shootout Over Scituate, Face Pembroke in Finals

Thanks to a nailbiting shootout victory over Scituate Thursday night, the Westwood Wolverines are heading to the Finals of the MIAA Division 3 South State Tournament.

Westwood and Scituate were tied 1-1 after three periods and an overtime period, and won 1-0 in a shootout, thanks to a goal by Andreas Nicolos.

The game was all about hard hits, good defense and outstanding goaltending by Chris Treon of Westwood and Scituate’s Sophomore Goalie Matt Gentile. Both goalies amounted over 30 saves in the contest, with Chris Treon saving 12 shots in the overtime period alone.

The game featured plenty of points that could have come with possible penalties, including one questionable non-call by officials with 7:50 remaining in the first period, during which Westwood's Kevin Gavin appeared to have been tripped as he was crossing center ice.

Tension between the teams continued throughout the period, with a nice hit up against the boards by Kevin Sennott with about 6 minutes remaining. This brought the whole Westwood crowd to their feet, chanting and all.

In the next couple of minutes, Westwood had some decent scoring opportunities. A slap shot by Westwood's Brendan Dalton was saved, and other shots were deflected by Gentile, who 13 saves in the first period alone.

But with 4:49 left in the period, Right Winger Brendan Skehill took a pass from Sennott and took a hard shot to put the puck in the net. It would be Westwood's only score for the rest of the game.

With 25 seconds left in the first period, tensions rose when Gavin took an elbow to the jaw from Scituate's Alex Way. Way was called for a minor in elbowing, but Gavin left the game.

Gavin, an all star and considered one of Westwood’s major scoring threats, missed several games this season due to a jaw injury. He just recently returned to the ice.

The second period was full of huge hits and contact by both teams. The hit to the face of Gavin took tensions in a whole other direction. Fans from both sides were jawing back and forth at each other as much as the players on the ice.

The Wolverines went into the period in a power play, but it was killed by Scituate after Gentile saved a few shots by Nicolos, Egizi and Curtin. Westwood had plenty of scoring opportunities throughout the period, but couldn’t get the puck past Gentile.

The only goal from Scituate came on a breakaway by Devon Flynn in the third period. Flynn stole the puck and brought it up the ice past a couple flailing and falling Westwood players. It was just him and Treon, and he put it in for the score to tie up the game. The goal was unassisted and shorthanded, with Westwood in a power play due to an interference call at the 10-minute mark.

The game eventually went into overtime after the 1-1 tie, and this was one of the more impressive periods in net by Treon. Amidst the huge hits and yelling back and forth between players, each team was getting plenty of shots off and had ample opportunities in front of them.

But the goalies were lights out, and Treon put on a show, saving the game with his dominance in the net. After the scoreless overtime, the teams engaged in a shootout. The entire Gallo Arena was on its feet and screaming in deafening fashion.

Then Gavin came back out to the ice, fully dressed, ready for the shootout. The Wolverine fans erupted in cheers. The winning goal came on the first play of the shootout, where Nicolos juked and bobbed before putting the puck in.

“I’ve got to tell you, that was maybe the best individual performance I’ve seen by a goalie,” said Westwood Athletic Director Karl Fogel. “Just incredible.”

Coach Mike Welby agreed, and said that both goaltenders were on top of their game throughout the night. He noted that his team had some chances throughout the game that they just could not capitalize on due to the outstanding work in net by Gentile. He said that being a sophomore he should be proud of his performance last night. But he also acknowledged the work by his own goaltender, Treon.

“Treon was incredible,” Welby said with a smile.

Welby said that Gavin will be checked out by doctors and he hopes to have him ready to play for the finale on Sunday against Pembroke. He said that his jaw is still hurt from before, and that the hit didn’t exactly help.

“It would be great to have him in the lineup,” said Welby.

Westwood will face offa against Pembroke in the State Tournament Final on Sunday at 7:30 p.m. at the Gallo Arena in Bourne.

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