Gavin Fitzpatrick scored 1:20 into overtime, deflecting in a shot from the point by Brendan Biggs, and #4 seed New Canaan survived with a 3-2 win over #5 Fairfield Prep in a CIAC Division 1 quarterfinal Saturday at Bennett Rink.
Briggs was also in on the game’s opening goal, with the rebound of his shot being put home by Nick Megdanis for a 1-0 Rams lead.
The Jesuits rallied to tie it twice, the first time coming on a Blake Baksay goal before Michael Rayher put New Canaan back on top. Tiernan Curley’s goal pulled Fairfield Prep even again, and the teams headed to overtime before Fitzpatrick settled it.
Notre Dame-West Haven 2, Ridgefield 1
The top-seeded Green Knights got a battle from the #8 Tigers before pulling out the victory at Wonderland of Ice.
Grant Curtis got the tiebreaking goal with 4:02 to play for NDWH after the teams traded goals in the second period.
Ty Battipaglia put NDWH on the board, then Luke Pereira evened things up for Ridgefield with 5:43 left in the middle period.
Darien 2, Northwest Catholic 1
It’s considered an “upset” based on the CIAC points system as the #6 Blue Wave took down the #3 Lions at Bennett Rink.
Charlie Schwind scored the go-ahead goal at the 2:03 mark of the second period for Darien, which was the #2 team (behind ND-West Haven) in the latest Hockey Night in Boston rankings.
Northwest Catholic took a 1-0 lead on a Jack Gunsalus goal just 2:59 into the game, but goalie Chris Schofield (20 saves) and the Blue Wave defense locked it down from there. Darien pulled even on Alek Garabet’s goal with 5:13 left in the period.
Hunter Wilcox made 30 saves for the Lions.
Xavier 9, Hamden 1
The #2 seed Falcons were the one team that eventually had a comfortable time in their quarterfinal, scoring six goals in the second period and rolling from there past the #7 Green Dragons at Bennett Rink.
Dylan Reynolds scored twice, including the first of the six-goal surge for the Falcons after Ryan Shane had tied it for Hamden earlier in the period.
Alex Rodriguez, Mike Prestash and Dylan Rovetti had a goal and assist apiece for Xavier, with Julian Sicurella, Matt Kraus, Jack Nowosad and Niko Spaniotis also scoring. Xavier finished with a 49-29 advantage in shots.
