Kennett needs overtime to beat Alvirne in D3 final

MANCHESTER – Mike Lane thought his Kennett High School boys hockey team picked the right time to play its best period during Saturday’s Division III championship game at the Verizon Wireless Arena.

The top-seeded Eagles had been outplayed by No. 2 Alvirne through three periods, but the teams were tied 3-3 at the end of regulation, forcing a 15-minute overtime. That’s when Kennett picked things up.

Kennett (19-1) took advantage of two power plays to swing momentum and capitalized on the second man-advantage, as junior Anthony LaRusso netted his second goal of the game with 26 seconds left in overtime and the Eagles won the division title 4-3 over the Broncos (18-2).

With the extra session – and the power play – winding down, a shot by Kennett’s Matt Kelly was deflected on its way to the goal, right to teammate Nick Massa. As the Alvirne defense scrambled toward Massa, the junior slid a pass across the front of the crease to LaRusso, who knocked into the net before Brocons’ goalie Brian Carpentier could get across.

“All the credit in the world to Alvirne, they were the better team for three periods,” Lane said. “We picked a great time to play our best period of the game. It was well-officiated and well-played. We were lucky enough to draw penalties in overtime.”

It was senior Kevin Murphy who drew both, the first a tripping call on Alvirne’s Cam Brock at 7:50 of the period. The Broncos were able to kill off that penalty, but when Michael Silva hauled down Murphy away from the play, the Eagles got another man-advantage.

“We were trying to keep the kids pumped up,” Alvirne coach Brian Gould said. “We shortened to two lines and we felt we were still outplaying them until the two penalties. That taxes everybody.”

Both teams tallied a goal in the first period, with Kennett’s Murphy scoring first at 12:43 of the opening period. Alvirne needed just 63 seconds to tie it on a goal by Trevor Perron and the teams went to the first intermission tied 1-1.

LaRusso got the lead back for the Eagles at 14:17 of the second, but the Broncos tied it again, this time on a goal by Cam Blake just 27 seconds into the third. Reed Vandergraaf and Brock each had an assist.

But Kennett went ahead again less than five minutes later on a goal by James Gallo and it looked like the Eagles might make it hold up until Brock tied the game at 11:55, with assists going to Vandergraaf and Blake.

The goal was one of the few occasions that the Eagles weren’t able to contain Alvirne’s top line.

“They contained Reed and Brock couldn’t really get going,” Gould said. “They bottled up were they were trying to get to.”

The Broncos controlled the early part of overtime, forcing Kennett goalie John Bishop to come up with some big saves. He finished the day with 34.

“He proved to me again why he’s the best goalie in the division,” Lane said of Bishop. “He has been all year and he played like it again (Saturday).”

Bishop’s play allowed LaRusso the chance for the game-winner, which Carpentier, who made 29 saves, had no chance to get.

“Carpentier played a great game,” Gould said. “He came to play and he wanted this start.”

It’s the last game for Carpentier, Brock and the rest of Alvirne’s seniors, and it will be the Broncos last game in Division III. They’re expected to move back up to Division II next season.

“They’re a great program,” Lane said. “Brian does a great job with them.”