Mason Marquis had a busy Saturday night.
Bow’s sophomore goalie was tasked with stopping a persistent Bishop Guertin offense that arrived early and often.
Marquis used his glove, block, pad, stick and all of the other devices at his dispense, but even then the puck seemingly found its way behind him.
No. 34 stood tall in net for the Falcons and even in the 4-2 loss to the Cardinals, he left a performance that deserves recognition and praise in an otherwise forgettable game for the blue and yellow.
Marquis (26 saves) was one of a few skaters who kept Bow in it with the Cardinals at Everett Arena on Saturday night. From the moment the puck dropped at the start of the game until the officials whistle and the horn blaring, the Falcons five tried to keep everything in front of them.
With a heavy amount of underclassmen (13) compared to Guertin’s junior class alone (15), coach Tim Walsh felt his team might have been wide-eyed by the both more experienced and physically larger opponent.
“I think we came out a little intimidated at first,” he said. “BG’s a physical team, they take a lot of penalties and we came out a little intimidated when they were throwing their bodies around.”
The boards certainly were active as skaters from both teams crashed into them throughout the night, often the Cardinals delivering the blow. That initial slight intimidation led to a Guertin goal from senior captain John Matone, who slid on one knee into the low slot and scored on a one-timer opportunity.
Matone was the genesis of the Cardinals offense and often set up their systems before Bow had a chance to enter the neutral zone.
Bow’s special teams were off-and-on throughout the game as well. The penalty kill, while only on the ice a couple of times, did a solid job of limiting the rushes from Guertin throughout the night.
It was when the Falcons had the skater advantage that produced mixed results.
Two separate 5-on-4 scenarios ended in nightmare as Brian Jenkins scored a shorthanded goal in the second period off a loose puck in the neutral zone and later in the third period Matone picked up his second goal of the night as the Cardinals were a skater down.
Now, 5-on-3 situations the Falcons executed with a calmness and coolness during high pressure moments. Sophomore winger Billy Smethurst scored a goal in the second period from the high slot on a pass from senior Cole Billow that made the game 2-1.
With the clock dwindling in the third period, Bow again capitalized with two more skaters when Dom Jurcins scored and Brodie O’Neil picked up the assist, making the game 3-2.
Matone’s aforementioned shorthanded goal came just a few seconds after Jurcins’ goal and Guertin controlled the puck the rest of the game.
Bow (2-2) won its first two games of the season but now is on a two game skid – and the schedule doesn’t get any easier. But these hardships are learning lessons for Walsh’s young team and he’s encouraged seeing the performances and moments that his squad has displayed the last few weeks.
“It’s a young group, but our strength lies in our freshman and sophomore group,” he said. “We belong with these teams and we belong in this division. We’re getting better.”
The Falcons next three games include a home contest against Bedford on Jan. 12 followed by road trips to Exeter on Jan. 15 and Keene on Jan. 17.