Salem, N.H. – Propelled by an overtime game-winning goal by senior Ricky
Longobardi, Avon Old Farms School captured its seventh Division I Prep
Championship in a 3-2 overtime win over St. Paul’s Sunday.
And in doing so it successfully defended its title from last year.
“The season was just domination, overall domination,” Longobardi said after
his team’s triumph at The Icenter. “Both offense and defense; our goalies played
well in the finals and you can’t ask for anything more from our team. These guys
are going to be my friends for the rest of my life. I can’t really thank them
more.”
After skating to a 2-2 draw through regulation, it only took 5:24 for
Longobardi put home the game-winner.
“I have no idea how it happened. The puck landed right in front of me and I
just buried it. I just put it in I guess,” Longobardi said. “This was the best
moment of my life, end of story.”
Understanding the pressure of the moment, Longobardi didn’t waist his
opportunity. Avon defenseman Lee Moffie (Wallingford, Conn.) took a shot from
the point that was deflected by a St. Paul’s player. The deflection landed right
on the stick of Longobardi, who was waiting between the faceoff circles.
Longobardi turned and fired a wrist shot that found its way past St. Paul’s
goalie Andrew Peabody (Marblehead, Mass.).
The goal couldn’t have come at a better time for Avon. After opening the
overtime period by hitting the goal post on two consecutive shots, momentum
finally swung back to Avon’s side after it lost a two-goal lead late in the
third period.
“Thank god for the break because we were back on our heels,” Avon head
coach John Gardner said. “It’s a character thing, and when things like that
(collapse) happen, what are you going to do about it? Are you going to gripe
about it, or are you going to put your nose down and grind hard. I think grinded
one out.”
If it wasn’t for the heroics of St. Paul’s top offensive line, overtime may
have never been needed.
“St. Paul’s just kept coming at us. We didn’t pick up guys, we didn’t get
the puck out of our zone well so they kept getting chances,” Gardner said. “They
got some guys who can burry it and before you know it, it’s a two-two
game.”
After Brad Peltz scored with 15:54 to go in the third period to give Avon a
2-0 lead, St. Paul’s Jason Bourgea (So. Burlington, Vt.), Ben Albertson
(Williston, Vt.), and Alex Davidson (So. Burlington, Vt.) took over.
“Their first line, just D1, that’s all I can say. All three of them,”
Longobardi said. “It was just an incredible line.”
St. Paul’s top line mounted an attack on Avon’s defense that proved to be
too much to handle. On the power play Albertson found the puck in a crowd of
players in front of the Avon goal and lifted a backhand shot over the blocker of
Avon goalie Parker Milner.
The same St. Paul’s line once again found the back of the net with 2:22
left in the third period to tie the game. Bourgea and Albertson worked a
flawless give-and-go and caught Milner out of position. Bourgea lit the lamp to
force overtime.
Avon opened the overtime session with a grind-it-out mentality that worked
successfully. Fueled by the play of its top line, Avon used a team effort to
find the winning solution both in overtime against St. Paul’s and throughout
their season.
“We have great depth and that let me be not afraid to put our fourth line
out there (in overtime) because they scored a goal last night and they work
hard. It was a great team effort,” Gardner said regarding the game-winning
overtime goal.
Longobardi, who is unsure of his playing future hopes his
championship-winning goal can help move his playing career forward.
“I have been talking to a few coaches but as of right now I don’t have
anything set,” Longobardi said. “Hopefully this goal helps me out.”