Never once this year did the Nauset boys hockey team shy away from its burning desire to avenge last year’s disappointing shutout loss at TD Garden.
Second-seeded Medfield gave it some deja vu when it took a one-goal lead into the third period of the Div. 3 state final Sunday night, but the top-seeded Warriors (24-0-1) didn’t panic en route to four unanswered goals for a 4-1 win and their first state title.
Star senior Logan Poulin (two goals) scored the game-tying goal before star linemate Jake Eldredge took the lead midway through the third, and Nauset added two empty-netters late to seal the deal despite a strong effort from Medfield goalie Charlie Duggan (32 saves).
Zach Coelho had 22 saves in the win.
Memories of last year’s 1-0 loss to Marblehead lingered in the back of the minds of Nauset’s players when Joey Nee gave Medfield a 1-0 lead in the second period, and Duggan denied the first 23 shots he faced to put the year-long heavy favorites on upset watch.
That strengthened early in the third, when Poulin’s goal on a rebound was waved off for goalie interference.
But with 11:17 left, a five-shot flurry on Duggan ended with Nauset finally scoring a goal at TD Garden on Poulin’s rebound tally. Five minutes later, Jake Eldredge fired in the 2-1 lead.
Fellow star forward Colin Ward added to the frenzy with an empty-netter with 2:07 left, and Poulin’s 85th point of the year came on his empty-net goal in the last minute.
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