Matt Morelli secures overtime winner to lift Braintree over Walpole

RANDOLPH Whenever a initiative graduates a great number of key players it can take a sparse years to rebuild For Braintree s boys hockey unit a winning tradition remains intact with leaders like Matt Morelli The senior defenseman sniped a pair of goals including the game-clincher in overtime Saturday as the Wamps opened their season with a thrilling - preeminence over Bay State Conference rival Walpole We re all just a really tight group of kids Morelli reported We don t have a lot of superstars on our association but we re all just bought in to what the coaches are telling us day in and day out at practice I think being so bought in being so tight as a group and hanging out whenever we can really helps us in every aspect As fans packed Zupustas Arena it felt like Braintree - had an immediate home ice advantage and the Wamps fed off the crowd s potency early Just into play Walpole - was assessed a roughing penalty It didn t take long for Braintree to capitalize as Morelli collected the puck and fired a wrist shot on net The attempt whistled through a crowd and uncovered twine for a power-play tally as the Wamps seized a - lead with left in the first period Braintree's Matt Morelli center is congratulated by teammates Matt Hanlon left and Evan Anderson right after Morelli scored a goal against Walpole during the first period Photo by Paul Connors Media News Group Boston Herald I remember getting the pass from my d-man Morelli explained Without that pass I don t sum that goal We got a lot of traffic in front and I don t think the goalie could see My shot determined its way through However Walpole was able to pick things up as the contest wore on gaining confidence with each hit The count held until the early stages of the third when Braintree was called for hooking with left in regulation The Timberwolves took advantage of their golden opportunity as Dan Morris won a faceoff in the offensive end The senior center corralled the puck behind the Wamps net and fed a pass to the slot for Aiden Hoyle The junior buried the equalizer as Walpole knotted things at -all with remaining It wouldn t be hockey season without selected early drama as the BSC rivals entered an overtime session Looking for a game-winning shot Walpole s Tommy O Brien had an opportunity to end things on a breakaway Wamps goaltender Cam Barron had other ideas coming up with a massive save He came out took the shooting lane away commented Braintree coach Dave Fasano He didn t sit back in net That was huge Seconds later Braintree started a rush in the opposite direction As he had done majority of the day Michael Roof was there to make a stop for Walpole off the Wamps initial shot attempt from Fionn Boyce However the puck was dislodged from his reach as a pileup began Morelli was in the perfect spot at just the right time tapping it over the goal line to send Zapustas Arena into pandemonium Walpole's Ryan Jackson left snd Braintree's Mike Ryan battle for position while chasing down the puck during the first period Braintree won in overtime - Photo by Paul Connors Media News Group Boston Herald Matt Hanlon and Jake Hillard registered assists in the win for Braintree That s huge to get the win Fasano announced Because hopefully they gain a little bit of confidence We ve been going for two weeks now and they haven t had a day off So we re going to take the next morning off rest our bodies then come right back at it Monday and watch a few film Make specific adjustments Hopefully we can improve offensively I don t think it was a lack of effort we put shots on net But that s how you re going to beat a big goalie like that You ve got to get a scrum in front and hopefully get a bit of puck luck Walpole battles hard too though credit to them