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Sports

Stoughton High Hockey Falls Just Short In Consolation Game

The Black Knights showed improvement and growth but weren't able to capitalize on Larry Hixon's 2-goal effort.

The Stoughton Black Knights' ice hockey team was unable to come from behind for a third time and fell, 3-2, to Brookline in the consolation game of the Petruzziello Tournament in Dedham. 

Stoughton falls to 0-5 on the season with the loss.

After getting down 1-0 in the first period on a power play goal, the Black Knights responded just 3:53 minutes later when Larry Hixon beat the Brookline’s goalie Jake Paul near the post with a nice backhand shot.

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After a late goal in the second period, Stoughton again found themselves trailing. In the third period, Hixon split through two defenders and found himself on a breakaway. He faked the goalie to one side and easily slid the puck into the open net for his second goal of the game.

Unfortunately 1:54 later, after a scrum in front of the net, the puck squirted free and Brookline’s Ian Crowley put away for his second goal of the night and the eventual game winner.

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“Better than we have played,” Stoughton head coach Dan Mark said of his team’s performance. “At least, we got some offense for a change. It’s still disappointing. We gave up too many shots. Overall, it’s an improvement.”

Brookline’s second and third goals were very similar. After controlling the puck in the Stoughton end, they’d fire the puck into traffic in front of the net. As players fought for posesssion, the puck happened to squirt out right in front of Nat Birch (second goal) and Crowley (third goal).  

“We have young defensemen,” Mark said. “They are a little outmatched physically. Three out of our five defenseman are freshmen who did a very good job. We need to work on that obviously in front of the net.”

Hixon, a senior captain, recorded his first two goals of the season. Both scores were the result of tremendous hustle and required great poise to finish off.

“Larry gives it his all,” Mark added. “I was glad to see him get a goal. He works hard up and down the ice.”

Also playing well for the Black Knights was goalie Paul Sheehan. The sophomore kept Stoughton in the game, specifically in the first period. Just 5:33 into the game, Sheehan stretched out to rob Crowley with a fantastic pad save. Then, 1:43 later, Sheehan stopped Brookline point blank on a breakaway chance.

“He’s been fantastic all season,” Mark continued. “He makes a lot of saves every game and he’s only a sophomore so that’s good.”

Despite not winning the Petruzziello Tournment, there is always something a team can take with them.  

“Well, we didn’t play so well Tuesday and I thought we played a lot better tonight,” Mark said. “We still have a long ways to go so hopefully with baby steps we’ll work on what we did well and improve on what we didn’t do well.” 

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