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By Michael Flanagan
Hometown Weekly Sports Editor
Following a 16-4-1 (7-3-1) regular season and a victory in the Fairleigh Dickinson Tournament on Martha’s Vineyard on February 19, the Westwood High School boys varsity hockey team took to the ice again on Wednesday evening to face Plymouth-South in the first round of the 2016-2017 MIAA Division II South State Tournament.
Led by senior forward Trevor Fahey (two goals, one assist), the Wolverines cruised to a 5-1 victory and earned themselves a date with North Attleboro in round two on Saturday night.
Despite the lopsided outcome, Westwood actually began the game with a bit of adversity after falling behind 1-0 with 5:50 remaining in the first period. However, the Wolverines kept their composure and stuck to their game plan by working the puck deep and creating a cycle game down low. After some sustained zone time, the Wolverines were able to knot the score at one in the final minute of the period, thanks to a shot that went five-hole by senior forward Thomas Keith, as the game entered the first intermission tied.
Following the break, it was all Westwood from then on out. Senior forward Aaron Janfaza picked a corner from just outside the blue line less than three minutes into the period to give the Wolverines their first lead of the night at 2-1. Moments later, senior forward Trevor Fahey gave the Wolverines some insurance with a nip from below the hash marks to make it 3-1 in favor of Westwood. Fahey then delivered a crushing blow to Plymouth-South with just seconds remaining in the period when he broken into the zone, carried the puck behind the net, cut back to his forehand around the cage and fired a shot bar down to give the Wolverines a 4-1 advantage at the second intermission.
Following a series of saves by junior goaltender Justin Anderson at the start of the third period, the Wolverines sealed the victory midway though the third period with a goal by junior forward Timmy Dalton to extend the lead to 5-1.
On Saturday, the Wolverines continued their run of success with a 4-1 victory over North Attleboro in the second round. Trevor Fahey, Sam Murphy, Timmy Dalton, and Thomas Keith supplied the goals for Westwood while Justin Anderson supplied 21 saves in net. At the time of print, the win over the Rocketeers advances Westwood to the Division II South semifinals on Tuesday night in Bourne against Scituate.
