by Team Reporter Nate Gordon ’16<\/p>\n
Every loss gives a team a sense of dejection. It\u2019s tougher when the game appears to be out of reach with a third of the game still sleft to play. Down 5-0 heading into the final eighteen minutes, Williston Boys Hockey (1-3) prevented the Penguins of Cushing Academy (5-0-1) from adding to their lead.<\/p>\n
During no stretch of the game was Cushing dominant, unusual when a team wins by such a large margin. Cushing made the most of its opportunities and punished the Wildcats for their occasional lapses.<\/p>\n
Williston Head Coach Derek Cunha told his team after the game, \u201cWe know it\u2019s a rough start [to the season], we know they\u2019re tough games, it\u2019s a grind. But this is what you guys signed up for, you guys didn\u2019t sign up to come and play an easy schedule. This is the best of the best of prep school hockey. That was an excellent team.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cushing went to the box eleven times on Wednesday, but the Wildcats were unable to get any pucks past the Penguin\u2019s goaltender. Cushing senior Joey Daccord shut out the Wildcats stopping all 32 pucks that came his way. One of the best goalies the Wildcats will face, Daccord has a .940 save percentage, giving up just six goals in his first five starts this season.<\/p>\n
Cushing Head Coach Rob Gagnon said after the game, \u201cOur goalie is going to make those saves, he\u2019s very good, he\u2019s one of the best in New England, and then we just capitalized on the mistakes Williston made.\u201d<\/p>\n
This is the Wildcats\u2019 third consecutive loss, all against top 10 New England prep teams. This may prove to be the toughest stretch of the season, which will culminate on Saturday in a home against The Gunnery.<\/p>\n
Williston was without top line forward Nick Schofield. Sidelined with a shoulder injury, Schofield, a sophomore, is the team\u2019s leading scorer with four goals.<\/p>\n
With the exception of Cushing\u2019s fifth goal, which was scored shorthanded, all of the team\u2019s goals were scored by the team\u2019s top line of David Cotton-Bailey Conger-Jake Simons. Cotton and Conger have committed to play Division 1 hockey at Boston College and St. Lawrence, respectively. Each of the three players on this line scored, with Cotton providing two goals.<\/p>\n
Williston senior goalie Elie Small replaced starter Shane Mason \u201916 after the second period. Small displayed poise in his first regular season game and prevented the Penguins from adding to their lead in the final eighteen period by making ten saves.<\/p>\n
The Wildcats have the chance to redeem themselves on Saturday when they take on the Highlanders at Lossone Arena. This will be the team\u2019s last game before the holiday break, during which the team will compete in a tournament and showcase. This Saturday\u2019s game at 6:00 p.m. will be preceded by the annual Williston alumni hockey game at 1:30 p.m.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
by Team Reporter Nate Gordon ’16 Every loss gives a team a sense of dejection. It\u2019s tougher when the game appears to be out of reach with a third of the game still sleft to play. Down 5-0 heading into the final eighteen minutes, Williston Boys Hockey (1-3) prevented the Penguins of Cushing Academy (5-0-1) … Continue reading 5-0 Loss, Cushing Exploits Wildcats’ Errors<\/span>