Michael Hatch scored a power-play goal 1:38 into overtime as No. 4 Cheverus rallied from a four-goal deficit to beat No. 5 Biddeford 6-5 in a Class A South quarterfinal game Monday at Troubh Arena.
The Stags (9-9-1) advance to the semifinals and will face the winner of the quarterfinal between No. 1 Scarborough and No. 8 Massabesic/Bonny Eagle/Old Orchard Beach on Saturday. Biddeford ends at 8-11.
Hatch ripped a shot from the blue line with the Stags on a 5-minute power play after Biddeford was penalized for boarding after a hit on Cheverus senior captain Luke Trickey.
“Trickey is a great captain for us and you never want to see him get hurt,” said Hatch. “When he went down, we were like ‘let’s go do this for Trickey.’ He does a lot for us and he gets the boys going, so that fired us up.”
On the winning goal, Chris Vallee sent a pass to Jesse Pierce, who slid the puck to Hatch at the blue line. Hatch fired the shot on net with forward Sean Walsh stationed in front of the net.
“I saw Sean in front of the net and whenever he’s in front it’s always in,” Hatch said. “He covered the goalie square and the goalie couldn’t see anything, and I was able to bury it top corner.”
Hatch’s overtime goal capped an impressive comeback for the Stags. Sophomore goalie Colby Benway entered the game midway through the second period after Biddeford took a 4-0 lead, and played a critical role in the win.
Benway made 12 saves, including several spectacular saves in the third period and overtime to keep Cheverus alive.
“I really wanted to win this game,” Benway said. “I got into the game and made the first save and was just trying to get warmed up a bit. Then we got one and I knew I had to shut them down.”
Added Cheverus Coach Dan Lucas: “If you get him in situations like that – he seems to play better when he doesn’t know he’s going in net – so if we hold him back and then the last minute let him know he’s going. He overthinks it sometimes, but he’s a good reactionary goalie anyway, and I think he really stepped it up.”
Biddeford took the lead 1:55 into the game when Rick Ruck scored from Logan Magnant. It was 2-0 less than four minutes later when Curtis Petit scored with an assist from Colin Lavigne.
Mike Reissfelder scored 5:08 into the second and Petit pushed it to 4-0 just over a minute later.
Vallee scored Cheverus’ first goal less than a minute after Benway entered the game. The Stags added goals by Pierce and Vallee in just over two minutes to get within one.
Hatch tied it at four just 10 seconds into the third period, but Biddeford regained the lead on a goal by Joe Anders. Walsh scored with five minutes left in the third to force overtime.
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