The #8 Seeded Hopkinton Hillers defeated #17 seeded Norwood Mustangs in their elite 8 matchup at the New England Sports Center in Marlboro 5 to 3. The Hillers improved to 19-4-0 and advances on to the Final 4 to take on #4 Walpole, #17 Norwood ends an incredible season with a record of 14-7-2.
In the first 2 rounds, Hopkinton defeated #25 North Attleboro 9-0 and #24 Westwood 6-3. Norwood took down #16 Marblehead 5-2 and #1 Tewksbury 5-2 before their battle in the Elite 8 round.
Scoring Summary
1st Period
#22 Joe Carrazza – Hillers – 9:06 – 1-0 Hopkinton
#10 Sean Dittmeier – Norwood – 8:38 – 1-1
#7 Dylan Mansur takes the puck end to end and drops it in for Hillers – 4:38 – 2-1 Hopkinton
#7 Dylan Mansur strikes again, assisted by Pavit Mehra – Hillers – 1:13 – 3-1 Hopkinton
2nd Period
#15 Michael Moynihan pulls Norwood within one – 12:44 – 3-2 Hopkinton
3rd Period
#29 TJ Martin ties the game up for Norwood – 7:17 – 3-3
#4 Pavit Mehra assisted by a beauty of a pass by #7 Dylan Mansur – 1:20 – 4-3 Hillers
#22 Joe Carrazza puts the icing on the cake with an empty netter – 0:31 – 5-3 Hillers
#8 Hopkinton Hillers next takes on #4 Walpole in D2 State Semi-Finals… Time, Date, Place TBA
Hillers will play Walpole in Final 4, time & venue TBA. Today’s scoring: Carrazza (Zolotarev), Mansur,
Mansur (Mehra, MacPherson)
Mehra (Mansur), Carazza @MassNZ @MassHSHockey @GlobeSchools @MetroWestSports @T_Mulherin @HNIBonline— Hopkinton Hockey (@HillerHockey) March 9, 2023
Hillers top Norwood, 5-3, and we are FINAL FOUR BOUND!!! Game details TBA. pic.twitter.com/RzFLFN8lzQ
— Hopkinton Athletics (@HillerAthletics) March 9, 2023
This @HillerAthletics @HillerHockey team has been an absolute blast to cover and I can’t wait for the final 4! pic.twitter.com/vs5LeSsE1T
— Tom Nappi (@TheRealTomNappi) March 9, 2023
FINAL: Hopkinton 5, Norwood 3
Two goals apiece from seniors Joey Carrazza and Dylan Mansur — plus the game-winning goal from TVL MVP Pavit Mehra nets the Hillers a trophy and a spot in the Division 2 Final Four. pic.twitter.com/lrksDlvsnL
— Tommy Cassell (@tommycassell44) March 9, 2023
Hopkinton senior Pavit Mehra with the goal with 1:20 left in the third period to give the Hillers a 4-3 lead over Norwood. pic.twitter.com/O0ReKq7KPM
— Tommy Cassell (@tommycassell44) March 9, 2023
Here’s Hopkinton High athletic director Kiely Murray handing out a Division 2 Final Four trophy to the contingent of Hillers. pic.twitter.com/M7mUM43a4j
— Tommy Cassell (@tommycassell44) March 9, 2023