Springfield – It took four times, countless defensive stands and a single and perfect connection to decide – everything.
With only seven seconds in the fourth extension, Collin Meunier delivered the goal of his life, making a pass by Matt Noonan and fired it in front of the goalkeeper of East Longmeadow to lift the number 1 of Minnechaug to a 9-8 victory over East Longmeadow’s number 3 in the western class of Massachusetts, on Tuesday at the Springfield Central School.
“It’s something that all children dream of, scoring the winning goal of the game, especially to change the game like this, it is incredible,” said Meuniier.
It was a victory that won the second direct regional title of the Falcons and will never forget.
“A game like this, four Ot, is easy to go down, hurt and be left without gas,” said Meunier. “We did not run out of gas once. We followed the whole game.”
Jake Robidoux of East Longmeadow (2 goals), who scored the winner of double in the semifinals, re -entered with specific goals, while Braden McCarthy added two goals and three assists. Marco Santos and Zach Sares also traveled the Spartans, who played in their first class title game after moving from class B this year.
“I couldn’t have been proud of the hardness they worked on,” said Dan Reid, coach of East Longmeadow. “You talk about four times; there are boys out there [that played] Somewhere another 60 minutes, playing hard. Couldn’t have been more prouder than that. I just would like we could have found the back of the network. “”
Minnechaug was directed by Matt Nonan, who scored twice and helped the game winner, and Tommy O’Toole, who handed over two crucial goals at tight times. Falcons have now won the titles of Western Mass.
East Longmeadow came out strong, reaching a 2-0 lead behind the first goals of Santos and Daniel Fisk. But Minnechaug settled quickly, responding with four unanswered goals to close the first quarter.
Sophomore Jake Hisgen caused the rally with two straight scores, while Noonan and Matt Beaudin beat the race: Beaudin’s goal did not leave the clock time to give the hawks a 4-2 advantage after one.
The second quarter saw a dramatic slowdown on the scoreboard. McCarthy cut off the deficit to one with 8:33 in half but O’Toole responded less than a minute later.
The two defenses strengthened the rest of the road, with a strong game on the net, especially of the Spartan goalkeeper Mike Picard, keeping the score blocked at 5-3 towards halftime.
East Longmeadow nailed to third and fourth, drawing the game several times and became brief with leadership with 1:17 in the regulation in a goal of Santos, sending his fan fans.
“It was impressive, but we ended up falling,” said Santos. “But it was still one of the best times of my life.”
O’Toole scored the game’s goal with four seconds that remained in the regulation, impressive the Spartans and sending the game to the extension tied by 8-8.
What he followed was almost 20 minutes of lacrosa of sudden death.
Both teams had possibilities. The two goalkeepers, Zach Kozub of Minnechaug and Mike Picard, from East Longmeadow, won clutch savings. And the defensive units on each side showed the determination of the championship caliber until the last moments before the winner of the Meunier game.
Minnechaug (17-2), ranked at the 13th place of Division II, is now heading to the Miaa State Tournament with a very necessary impulse.
East Longmeadow (13-4), ranked at number 9 of Division III, will enter his battle of proven brackets.