Redmen Can't Keep Up With Lions, Fall in Opener, 4-2

If the hockey team is going to be successful this season, it will need to play with they type of passion it should over the last eight minutes against Chelmsford High Wednesday night.

Unfortunately for the Redmen, they were already trailing, 4-1, at that point and went on to lose, 4-2 in the season-opener for both teams, at the .

Ryan Doherty scored both goals for Tewksbury. The second came on a powerplay with just over seven minutes left in the game to cut the deficit to two goals. From there, the Redmen pressed the attack, peppering Chelmsford goalie Brad Alber with shots and crashing the net aggressively in search of rebounds.. But the sophomore stood tall, turning aside everything the Redmen could throw his way.

"We didn't play well for 38 minutes and then we played well for seven minutes," said Tewksbury Coach Derek Doherty. "(Our players) finally played with a sense of urgency when they knew they had to come back."

Tewksbury goalie Niko Cunha played well for much of the game, finishing with 22 saves and keeping the Redmen close in the first two periods with some sensational stops.

The Lions scored twice, 62 seconds apart, early in the third period to break open a close game.

The game was won in the corners and in front of the net, where Chelmsford consistently won the physical battle for loose pucks and position.

"They were getting (the loose pucks) and we weren't battling for them," said Derek Doherty.  "We weren't clearing the puck from in front of the net and we weren't challenging for position."

"(Our players) worked hard tonight," said Chelmsford Coach Mike McGrath. "We're going to have to work hard for every goal we get this year."

David DeDonato scored twice and Kevin Driscoll added a goal and an assist to lead Chelmsford High.

Tewksbury jumped out to a lead, when Doherty scored the first of his two goals less than three minutes into the first period off an assist from Sean MacLeod.

But after that it was all Lions, who tied the game early in the second period. Driscoll got the equalizer, just seconds after coming out of the penalty box.  Matt Powers (two assists) and Billy Kamenides got the assists.

With 5:30 to play in the period, DeDonato got the first of his two goals, beating Tewksbury goalie Niko Cunha from point blank range to put Chelmsford up for good, 2-1. The goal was set up by some blue-collar work along the boards by Powers ancd Drew Dawson.

CJ Emmonds made it 3-1 on a nifty goal with 10 minutes left in the game. Emmonds knocked home the rebound of a Thomas Murphy shot, while falling to the ice. Just over a minute later, DeMonato pushed the lead to 4-1 on a wrist shot from 15 feet.