After Bedford surprisingly tied the game up against Concord, 2-2, it felt like every fan in Everett Arena was holding their breath. Freshman defenseman Reece Mounsey released the tension with a long whizzing shot from the blue line with four minutes left to win the game for Concord.
No. 1 Concord (17-1) hosted the No. 8 Bulldogs (8-8-3) at Everett Arena on Saturday night and escaped with a 4-2 win.
“It felt great. I’ve always wanted to score a goal like that,” Mounsey said after the game.
Concord had previously dominated the Bulldogs, 6-0, but teams play up a level in the playoffs, and the Crimson Tide knows they have a target on their back.
After sophomore Nolan Walsh continued his offensively gifted season with a goal to electrify the crowd 15 seconds into the game and another at the end of the first period, it seemed to be another smooth night for the Tide. Then a dogfight broke out.
Bedford’s first line on offense, winger Colin Langianese and center Dylan Riccio combined for two goals in the second period to stun Concord and its packed arena. The first one was a strong shot, and the second one rebounded through the goalie’s pads.
Someone needed to step up. Mounsey’s game-winning goal electrified the crowd. .
Concord outshot Bedford 36-13, but both teams were frustrated in some ways. Concord couldn’t find the net and the Bulldogs could barely get it out of their zone.
Walsh went on to score once more to complete his hat-trick in the final minute of the third period, after Bedford pulled its goalie, and put the nail in the coffin to survive a thrilling quarterfinal.
“We’ll take anything now, a win’s a win. Bedford gave us a good fight,” Walsh said.
Captain Tyler Morin and Michael Barry both had two assists on the night for the Tide, as well. Jack Gfroerer assisted Walsh on the first goal too. Sophomore goalie Carter Heise finished with 20 saves.
Next, the Tide will play No. 4 Windham (12-7) at JFK Coliseum in Manchester on Wednesday, March 11, at 5 p.m.
