GREENFIELD — The chance at sectional glory came to an abrupt end for the Greenfield hockey team on Monday, as the third-seeded Green Wave lost to sixth-seeded Ludlow, 3-2, in the Western Mass. Class A quarterfinals at Collins-Moylan Arena.
The Green Wave got the home crowd in a frenzy when Nico Siano scored just 14 seconds into the game. Unfortunately for Greenfield, the scoring chances disappeared for a prolonged period of time. The opportunistic Lions then took control in the second period with a pair of goals.
“They are a great hockey team,” Greenfield coach Adam Bouchard said of Ludlow. “Coach Rivest has been doing it for a long time. He’s a great high school hockey coach. We didn’t show up for the second period. The second period was the greatest difference maker….We just did not come out and play our style of hockey in the second period. They really took it hard to us.”
Ludlow outshot Greenfield 21-9 in the second frame. Teddy Iwasinski and Nathan Ribeiro scored the second period goals for the Lions. Greenfield went into the third period trailing, 2-1.
“We couldn’t withstand the pressure they were bringing,” Bouchard said. “The third period was a 1-1 third period, we started playing our style of hockey again…but it takes 45 full minutes. It’s playoff time. We just have to continue to play all 45 minutes.”
The Green Wave garnered some momentum early in the final frame when Jack Laurie scored from just inside the blue line. The defenseman blocked an attempted clear and then fired the shot past Ludlow goalie Donald Rogers. Laurie’s goal tied the game with 11 minutes, 27 seconds left in the game.
A power play goal from Ribeiro gave Ludlow a 3-2 lead with eight minutes, 19 seconds left in the third. Greenfield was the recipient of a power play in the final minutes but could not capitalize. There were two face offs in the Ludlow defensive zone in the final minute, but the Green Wave could not get possession to get a clean scoring opportunity.
Greenfield has a quick turnaround and will play Minnechaug in a consolation game at Olympia Ice Center in West Springfield on Tuesday at 11:30 a.m. Luca Siano and Laurie had assists for Greenfield. Cooper Smith made 41 saves in net.
Wrestling
The Frontier Regional wrestling team had three first place finishers at the Falcon Fury Youth Wrestling Tournament at Monday in Wilbraham. The Redhawks also took the team championship in the middle school division with 93.5 points at Minnechaug Regional High School.
Ainsley Southergill mauled the competition, with three pins in a total of two minutes, 15 seconds. Sean Eich-Richardson also got a first place finish. Eich had two wins by fall, one in 10 seconds and the other in 20 seconds. Michi Como was the third Frontier wrestler in first place. Como pinned (58 seconds) David Crichton to secure his finish.
Other Frontier finishers included Chase Bysiewski (second place), Reilly Castellano (second place), Cam Smith (second place), Thomas Bagdon (fourth place) and Connor McCoy (fourth place).
Girls basketball
Greenfield 54, Palmer 28 — The Green Wave ran away from the Panthers in the second half in a non-tournament win at Nichols Gymnasium. Tayler Bergeron scored 22 points through heavily focused defense surrounding her for the most of the game. Gloria McDonald added 17 points for Greenfield.
Greenfield went into halftime tied, 17-17. A couple of big 3-pointers from McDonald helped the Green Wave pull away in the third quarter. Bergeron also scored 10 of her 22 points in the third frame.
Boys basketball
Mohawk 61, St. Mary’s 47 — The Warriors picked up their third win of the season with the victory over the Saints in Buckland in a non-tournament contest. Braydn Marcoux scored 16 points for Mohawk. Owen Pfisterer-Hill (16 points) and Malcolm Briggs (11 points) were in double-figures for the Warriors.