Busconi can’t save Raiders in season opener
Senior goalie makes 41 saves but the Watertown High hockey team falls to Arlington, 3-0
December 19, 2014
Ten months removed from capturing its first Middlesex League championship since 1985, the Watertown High boys’ hockey team got off to a slow start Wednesday, beginning the title defense by dropping the season opener to Arlington, 3-0.
Watertown junior Mike Giordano prepares for a faceoff Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2014, during the Raiders’ 3-0 season-opening loss to Arlington at Ryan Arena.
Senior goaltender Anthony Busconi had a great game in net, but the Raiders never managed to find their rhythm offensively. Busconi stopped all but two of the 43 shots the Spy Ponders fired on him, but his performance wasn’t enough as Arlington dominated, outshooting Watertown by a margin (44-16).
Arlington came out firing from the first drop of the puck, throwing 14 shots on goal in the first period. Despite very little time in the offensive zone, the Raiders managed to hold their own through the first few minutes until Arlington forward Kevin Ouellette scored with five minutes left in the first period.
Arlington sophomore Peter Scheschareg won the faceoff in the Raiders zone, and the puck was left for Ouellette to snap a shot over Busconi’s right shoulder before he had time to react.
The second period had a similar tune to the first as the Spy Ponders continued to pepper the Watertown goal. Halfway through the second frame, Busconi made a kick save on Arlington’s Justin Demarco, and the puck was left for Sean Foran to bury the rebound and double Arlington’s lead.
The Spy Ponders added a third goal with 1:32 remaining in the third period, as Scheschareg scored on an empty net, after Busconi was pulled to get an extra attacker on the ice.
The Raiders look to bounce back against Winchester on Saturday, Dec. 2, at 4 p.m. at O’Brien Ice Rink in Woburn.
–Dec. 18, 2014–
