CANTON, Mass. — In a clash between the top two teams in the MIAA, one established its dominance convincingly on Wednesday night.
St. John's Prep, ranked No. 2 in our rankings this week, took down Xaverian, ranked No. 1, 5-2, on the road.
The Eagles played a cleaner, more physical game. They were a step faster all night, winning puck battles and getting to the front of Xaverian's net with ease.
That was clear midway through the first period when senior forward Christian Rosa found himself in a net-front scramble with the puck. After Xaverian's Cole Pouliot Porter made a series of saves, Rosa shoveled a backhander past the Hawks goaltender, giving SJP a 1-0 lead.
With under a minute to play in the period, however, Xaverian responded. Senior forward Jack O'Neil threw a pass up the boards to junior Jackson Morse. On the ensuing 2-on-1, Morse sniped a shot past St. John's Prep goalie AJ Farese, tying the score, 1-1.
St. John's Prep extended its lead in the second period, getting a lamplighter from junior Mason Luciano early in the frame and another from Rosa midway through.
Xaverian junior forward Colvin Callahan notched a goal less than one minute into the third period, cutting SJP's lead to 3-2, but Luciano followed that up with his second tally of the night, making it 4-2 Eagles. Sophomore forward Cooper Hosmer tacked on an empty-net goal late.
St. John's Prep looked hungrier on Wednesday night. The Eagles played like they had something to prove, quieting Xaverian's large student section on multiple occasions.
The Hawks weren't without their chances, which is where Farese came into the picture. The junior netminder showed poise all night, making big-time saves, especially when Xaverian upped the pressure late.
Let's dive into the standouts.
Ethan Goodrich
St. John's Prep, 6/20/2007, LW, left shot, 5-11/154Â
Goodrich gave his team the advantage when it came to offensive zone entries. The sophomore is shifty, quick and has great hands, which allowed him to slip past Xaverian defenders and get to high-danger scoring areas. He had two scoring chances in the first period that helped push momentum in SJP's favor. He anticipated plays well, too, especially in the neutral zone.
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Cooper Hosmer
St. John's Prep, 10/7/2007, C/RW, right shot, 5-7/150Â
Hosmer wasn't the biggest player on the ice, but his hockey IQ made him highly effective. His work getting low in the zone and supporting his defensemen was great. There were also times that Xaverian would try to pass the puck into the slot and Hosmer was there to shut it down. His hands in tight were good and his overall compete made him a regular on the ice for head coach Kristian Hanson.
Mason Luciano
St. John's Prep, 8/27/2007, C, left shotÂ
Both of Luciano's goals came from the net front. His second goal was a perfect, second-effort play. He brought the puck from the corner, got past Xaverian's defense and ripped a shot. Pouliot-Porter made a great save on it, but Luciano followed the play, grabbed the rebound and scored. It was a high-effort night for Luciano. His good skating made him effective, too.
Jackson Morse
Xaverian, 2007, RW, right shotÂ
Morse was Xaverian's best and most dynamic player by far. His goal was all about getting behind St. John's Prep's neutral zone coverage and showcasing a nice finish. Right after his goal, with the score 1-1 and the period about to end, he hustled back to break up an SJP rush, intercepting the pass and going the other way with it. He's a good skater who maintains speed with the puck on his stick.
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Brady Plaza
St. John's Prep, 9/25/2005, D, right shot, 5-7/179Â
Plaza's fleet feet matched with his hands make him a very strong puck-moving defenseman. He ran the top of the power play for St. John's Prep, using his good mobility and offensive creativity to funnel pucks lower in the zone. When it came to breaking pucks out of his own zone, he was great at identifying pressure and evading it. Again, an area where great skating makes a difference. As an '05 senior, he would make a great addition to a prep team next season as a postgrad.
Christian Rosa
St. John's Prep, 12/1/2005, C, right shot, 5-10/170Â
Rosa, Vana and senior captain Johnny Tighe are St. John's Prep's top line for a reason. Rosa's first goal was all about getting to the slot, finding the loose puck and finishing his chance. The second was off of a great pass from Tighe on a 2-on-1. Rosa plays with pace, which helps his line generate chances off the rush. Rosa and Vana together on the penalty kill created some havoc for Xaverian's power play. Rosa was quick on Xaverian defenders going to retrieve pucks for breakouts.
Jake Vana
St. John's Prep, 9/1/2005, RW, right shot, 5-11/165
NCAA: Princeton lacrosseÂ
Vana might be the best at protecting the puck in the MIAA. It is a chore to try and get the puck off his stick. He uses his body and his feet so well, especially when entering the offensive zone. He was particularly a force on the forecheck against Xaverian, finishing hits on defenders. Late in the second period, he earned a penalty shot while killing a penalty. Pouliot-Porter stoned him, but it's all about effort for Vana, who is headed to Princeton to play lacrosse.
