WORCESTER — Coleson Hanrahan netted four goals and an assist, including the game-winner in double overtime, as top-seeded Longmeadow (22-1) beat No. 3 Billerica, 9-8, for the Div. 2 championship at Coughlin Field on the campus of Worcester State University Tuesday night.
The game was a rematch of the 2001 final, which Billerica won 12-3.
“It’s the greatest feeling in the world, honestly,” said Hanrahan. “Only so many guys are able to do it, so it’s an honor.”
Wheeling in the offensive zone, the 5-foot-9 junior caught the pass from cousin Domenic Veratti in full stride ripping a shot past Billerica netminder Scott Einarson just 17 seconds into the second extra session.
“They’ll remember that goal for the rest of their lives,” said Longmeadow coach Keith Campbell. “It feels great. It’s a hard way to win it, but (Billerica) was a really tough team. It’s a hard game to win, but our guys stepped up at the end and finished it.”
WORCESTER, MA – JUNE 21: Longmeadow’s Luke Szyluk gets a shot past Billerica’s Scott Einarson June 21, 2022 in WORCESTER, Massachusetts. (Staff Photo By Chris Christo/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald)
According to Billerica coach Ryan Nickerson, his team left it all on the field.
“These guys are phenomenal especially with the season turnaround late,” Nickerson said. “We just ran out of gas late, we fought tooth and nail. I can’t afford to say enough about our seniors.
“We wanted to win this one. This was their goal to win this one, we just didn’t do it tonight.”
Hanrahan led the charge for Longmeadow, scoring his first of four just minutes into the opening stanza.
Billerica battled back with key tallies by Dominic Terrazzano (three goals) and Conor Doherty, giving the Indians its first lead with 4:05 to play in the stanza.
The Billerica lead was brief. Longmeadow senior Luke Szyluk (two goals) caught Einarson out of position potting the equalizer 13 seconds later. And when senior Samuel Weaver (three goals) one-timed a Hanrahan pass past Einarson with 8:04 to play in the half, a track meet-style binge seemed eminent
Billerica seemed to buck the trend, however, scoring three consecutive goals with Christopher Hunt, Terrazzano and Jason Martin, giving them all the momentum and the 5-3 lead at halftime.
A junior midfielder, Terrazzano scored three goals and an assist. He was a constant threat which kept the Lancers on their toes.
“I went to the Duxburty game when he shot it in four times,” said Campbell. “We switched it up put Antonio Izzo on him. He’s an our unrecognized hero of the game.”
Both goalies played remarkably well in the first half, making several glittering saves. Longmeadow senior John Batchelor stoned Hunt on an earlier drive, while Einarson stymied Finley Morin in closing seconds of first half.
Billerica’s Steven Lankowski shook off a stiff check by a Longmeadow defender, before unleashing a crisp shot that found nothing but net, giving the Indians the 6-4 advantage in the third quarter, but Longmeadow never faltered in its pursuit, scoring five goals in the second half to push things into overtime.