The 26th-seeded Belmont boys hockey team (5-16-2) traveled to Springfield Wednesday night for a first-round playoff matchup against 7th seeded Pope Francis (15-5-3), falling by a score of 5-1 to end the team’s season.
The teams are familiar. On Feb. 11, Pope Francis beat Belmont, 5-2 at the Skip Viglirolo Rink. On Feb. 17, Belmont traveled to Springfield, losing that second game, 8-1.
Belmont entered the playoff contest focused on setting the tone early.
“Work hard and wear them down early,” senior captain and goalie Quinn Harrington said. “We can’t give up until the final whistle.”
Pope Francis controlled much of the opening period, generating sustained offensive pressure and building a 2-0 lead after the first 20 minutes.
An early second-period goal extended the advantage to 3-0 before Belmont responded. Junior captain Johnny Connolly put Belmont on the board midway through the period, off an assist from sophomore Thomas Courtney, cutting the deficit to 3-1.
The Marauders earned a power-play opportunity later in the period but were unable to convert. Five minutes after Connolly’s goal, Pope Francis answered with another goal to make it 4-1. The pace slowed in the latter half of the second period, and the score held through the intermission.
Pope Francis added one more goal in the third period to secure the 5-1 final.
Despite the result, Belmont’s preparation leading up to the game reflected the team’s postseason mindset.
“We have had intense practices to keep our legs fresh, as well as studying film to focus on parts of the game we need to improve on,” junior captain Mikey Rowan said.
The locker room atmosphere reflected the stakes of playoff hockey, particularly for Belmont’s three seniors: Harrison Barmak, James Lemieux, and Harrington.
“Everyone was super hyped for round one, but there were definitely nerves,” Lemieux said. “I was feeling some, knowing that this could be the last game I ever play – it’s all on the line for me.”
Belmont closed the season with a young roster that featured just three seniors, with much of the lineup expected to return next winter.
