Westfield rallies to beat West Springfield, 3-2 in Western Mass. Division III hockey semifinal

Fran Sypek, March 03, 2012 5:02 p.m. via MassLive

WEST SPRINGFIELD – For two full periods and half of another, Westfield was dominating the game.  But the scoreboard told a different story.

That is, until the third period when Connor Laraway scored consecutive goals 2 minutes, 32 seconds apart to lift Westfield to a 3-2 victory over West Springfield Saturday afternoon in a Western Massachusetts high school hockey Division III semifinal game at the Olympia. No. 3 Westfield (16-4-2 )willl meet No. 1 Longmeadow (11-6-4) Thursday at 8 p.m. in the final at the Olympia.

West Springfield tried to cling to a 2-1 lead in the third period, a lead the Terriers owned largely because of goaltender Nick Brosseau. But the Bombers were relentless and there was only so much Brosseau could do.   “I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, there isn’t a goalie I’d rather have than Nick,” West Side coach Gil Doe. “He’s kept us in games like this all year.”  Brosseau finished with 28 saves. Several were spectacular.

“We knew that kid was going to stand on his head and that’s what we prepared for,” Westfield coach C.B. “Moose” Matthews said. “We worked all week to get in his face, because if he gets a good look at the puck, he’s going to stop it.”Laraway was recently elevated to the first line and he has made the most of the promotion.

The Bombers crashed the net and Laraway was in position to slid a backhander past Brosseau at 6:25 of the third period for the game-winner.  “It was just a phenomenal way to finish a great game,”  Laraway said. “We consider the third period to be Bomber hockey and that’s what we played.” Laraway scored the equalizer at 8:57. Both of his goals were set up by Ethan Nassar. ‘”We’ve fought back all year and we did it again,” Nassar said.

Although Westfield had better scoring opportunities during the second period, West Springfield produced the lone goal of the session. Drew Rossman scored to give the Terriers a 2-1 lead.  Just 49 seconds into the middle period, Rossman drilled a 30-foot shot from a sharp angle that caught the lower right corner past Matt Blascak, who relieved starter Nick Liberto at the start of the period.  The teams traded goals less than one minute apart during a fast-paced first period. A.J. Collette connected for West Side, while Nick Sibilia scored for Westfield.

It took the Bombers only 47 seconds to answer Collette’s tally. Sibilia jammed in a centering pass from Sean Sphor to tie the score at one apiece.  West Side, which went 2-0-1 against Westfield during the regular season, opened the scoring when Collette floated a shot through Liberto’s pads at 5:48 to give the Terriers a 1-0 lead.

Congratulations to the Westfield High School Swimming and Diving Team for its successful finish to its dual meet season.  The Bomber Girls’ won their first Western Mass. Championship in 15 years yesterday to cap their season.  The Championship was a total team effort with great performances by Hannah Plourde, Nicole Charette, Genna Senecal, Jordan Jacobson, Erin Lewis, Hope Walsh and Lauren Longley.  The Bombers Boys’ team made a valiant effort but came up a little short yesterday, claiming their third straight 2^nd place finish at the Western Mass. Championships.  Outstanding performances were turned in by Matt Jacobson, Matt Labombard, Jimmy Stinehart and John Dolan.  The swim of the day was turned in by Jimmy Stinehart, John Dolan, Brendan Day and Allen Whitlock when they broke a 13 year old school record in the 200 freestyle relay. The Bomber Divers were led by Kelsey Veillette, Taryn Hamel, and Evan Fouche, who all qualified for the State Division I championship this weekend.  The Bombers now set their sites at winning the Western Mass Championships next weekend at Springfield College. 

GO BOMBERS!!

Minnechaug girls finish fourth at state Division I swimming meet

Fran Sypek, February 19, 2012 8:34 p.m.

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Kristen Webber helped Minnechaug to a fourth place finish in the state Division I swimming meet Sunday at Harvard. – (Republican file photo.)

CAMBRIDGE -  It may not have taken away the sting of not winning a Western Massachusetts Division I swimming team title, but for Minnechaug Regional, that was all in the past and Sunday was a new day with an even bigger challenge.

Minnechaug, thanks in part to a strong showing in two Western Massachusetts record-setting relay events, finished fourth in the girls’ state Division I swimming and diving championships at Harvard’s Blodgett Pool.
“This was so much fun,”  said senior Kristen Webber, who was one of the four swimmers and one diver who made up the squad. “We  know Westfield is a very good team and all we wanted to do was swim our best.”
Sectional champ Westfield was was sixth. Last week, Westfield won the sectional title and Minnechaug was second at Springfield College.
“The key today was we had two relays (500-yard medley) and 200-yard medley relay)  which were both awesome,” coach Erik Mandell said. “Fourth place is a fantastic result and I’m very proud of the girls.
Among the standouts for the Falcons was Elizabeth Avery, who was second in the 50-yard freestyle (24.80) in a close race with state champion Megan Griffin of Lincoln-Sudbury. The Falcons’ Christina Greco tied for  third ( in 24.89).
“There were only four of us (swimmers) today and we had to put up a fight,” Avery said. “We all did really well.
But the Falcons’ best event was the 500-yard relay, which they won in 1:39.10. Greco, Hannah Tapey, Avery and Kristen Webber composed the team.
“This was one of the few times in my life where I saw the time and couldn’t believe it,” Mandell said. “It happened so fast, I didn’t believe it initially.”
Minnechaug was second in the 200-yard medley relay. The team was composed of  Tapey, Webber,  Greco and  Avery. They finished in 1:50.81, just behind Westford’s winning All-America time of 1:47.97.
“That was another awesome swim,” Mandell said. ”
The Falcons were 3-4 in the 100-yard freestyle. Avery took third (54.93) and Webber finished fourth (54.74) in the event won by Westford’s Jen Marrkand.in 52.52.
Chicopee Comp captain Kara Lacoste won the state championship in the 100-yard backstroke in 59.31. Chicopee’s Colleen Humel finished fourth in 59.95. Lacoste took third in the 100-yard breaststroke (1:08.11) won by Westford’s Kelly Huber in 1:07.18.
“I never expected to win and I’m so happy and excited,” Lacoste said. “It’s hard to swim fast two weekends in a row, so I was hopeful, but not sure where I’d finish.”
It was a good day for Easthampton, especially in the 100-yard butterfly, where  Amanda C. Lucia won the state championship with a time of 56.69.It was a 1-2 finish for Western Mass. as Christina Greco of Minnechaug was second in 57.09.  Tapey of Minnechaug secured seventh in 1:02.76. In the 200-yard IM., Lucia was runner-up (2:05.81) to Westford’s Marrkand (2:02.78), while Eagles’ teammate Jessica Harper took third place (2:09.84).  asthampton’s 200 IM medley relay team of Emily Boysen, Alexandrea Zuliewicz, Lucia and Riley LeBlanc placed 11th in 1:58.80. Harper was second in the 500-yard freestyle (5:07.92) to King Phillip’s Stephanie Nasson.
Agawam’s Megan Dustin secured second in the 200-yard freestyle (1:55.65) behind King Phillip’s Stephanie Nasson. Chicopee’s Colleen Humel finished fourth (1:56.90). Webber placed 11th (1:58.97), while Westfield’s Jordan Jacobson was 12th (1:59.60).

Minnechaug’s Emily Murphy placed ninth in diving.

Top finishers and locals’

Team: 1.Westford.  305 2. Lincoln-Sudbury 202. 3. King Phillip 201. 4. Minnechaug 183.5. 5.Concord-Carlisle. 152.5. 6. Barnstable 135. 9. Westfield 89. 11. Easthampton 86. 17. Chicopee Comp 36. 17. Agawam 36. 19. Tantasqua 35. 20. Chicopee. 32. Amherst 8.
200 Medley Relay: 1. Westford Academy 1:47.97. 2. Minnechaug 1:50.81. 11. Easthampton 158.82. 13. Westfield 2:00.05. 17. Amherst 2:01.72. 22. Agawam 2:02.80.
200 Freestyle 1. Stephanie Nasson, King Phillip 1:52.05. 2. Megan Dustin, Agawam 1:55.65. 4. Colleen Humel, Chicopee 1:56.07. 9. Hope Walsh, Westfield 1:58.64. 11. Kristen Webber, Minnechaug 1:58.97. 21. Lauren Longley, Westfield 2:04.89. 25. Emma Thibault, Amherst 2:07.06.
200 IM: 1, Jen Markand, Westford 2:02.78. 2, Amanda C. Lucia, Easthampton 2:05.81.  3. Jessica Harper, Easthampton 2:09.84. 13. Hannah Plourde, Westfield.
50 Freestyle: 1. Megan Griffin, Lincoln-Sudbury 24.62. 2. Elizabeth Avery, Minnechaug 24.80.. 3. Christina Greco, Minnechaug 24.89. 14. Erin Lewis, Westfield 26.64..
100 Butterfly: 1. amanda Lucia, Easthampton 56.69.2. Christiana Greco, Minnechaug 57.09. . 14 Genna Senecal, Westfield 1:04.34.
100 Freestyle: 1. Jen Marrkand, Westfod, 51.52. 2. Hayley Weik, Barnstable 54.11.  3.  Elizabeth Avery, Minnechaug, 54.68. 4. Kristen Webber, Minnechaug 54.74.
500 Freestyle: 1.Stephanie Nasson, King Phillip 4:57.87.  2. Jessica Harper, Easthampton. 5:07.92. 6. Megan Dustin, Agawam. 5:11.54. 8. Hope Walsh, Westfield 5:17.26.
200 Freestyle Relay: 1. Minnechaug 1:39.10. 2. Westford 1:42.25. 14. Westfield 1:47.76. 20. Amherst 1:50.29, 23. Agawam 1:50.97,  26. Easthampton 1:56.08.
100 Backstroke: 1. Kara Lacoste, Chicopee Comp 59.31. 4. Colleen Humel, Chicopee 59.95. 15. Hannah Tapey, Minnechaug 1:03.65. 26. Bridget Lewis, Westfield 1:07.64..
100 Breaststroke: 1. Kelly Huber, Westford 1:07.18. 3. . Kara Lacoste, Chicopee Comp. 1:08.11. 14. Erin Lewis, Westfield 1:11.64. 15. Hannah Plourde, Westfield 1:12.37. 17. Aali Johnstone, Westfield 1:12.92. 19. Nicole Charette, Westfield 1:13.85. 21. Sophia Dillon-Davidson, Amherst 1:14.29.
400 Freestyle Relay: 1. Westford 3;36.45.  2. King Phillip 3:36.47. 6. Westfield 3:50.26. 13. Amherst 3:57.35. 14. Agawam 3:57.84.