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After pulling off a 3-1 win at fifth-ranked Utica Eisenhower to finish off a 19-4-1 season, South would need extra time to avoid an early playoff heartbreak against the De La Salle Pilots. Will Barrett ’15 would deal the decisive blow with just 1:58 left in overtime to lead the Blue Devils to a 4-3 win, giving South its’ first playoff win since 2013.
The boys, according to MHSAA rankings, were considered favorites in this matchup of defense (South) vs. offense (De La Salle), yet they’d be in for a rude awakening, as the Pilots would be the first to score early on. Senior veteran Jason Sommerville ’15 would have an immediate answer scoring just 22 seconds later and tying the game 1-1. Despite the quick response, the message was clear, De La Salle wasn’t going to go down easy, head coach Robert McKillop said.
“I don’t think we were mentally and physically ready like the way we should,” McKillop said. “I don’t think we were ready for the intensity of the game. I don’t think we were ready for their speed either.”
For Sommerville it was the same mentality, and it was clear South had underestimated its opponents. It was his job to get the boys back on the right track and respond to regain some needed momentum, he said.
“I knew they were good, but I thought it would’ve been an easier win,” Sommerville said. “After they scored the first goal, we knew we had to wake up and get down to business.”
Minutes after tying the game, Jack Flynn ’17 would score his first playoff goal and put the Blue Devils up 2-1. On the other end, the defense was starting to find its rhythm until the Pilots killed a crucial power play midway in the second period. Less than a minute later, De La Salle’s speed in the transition game would lead to the lone goal of the period, tying it at 2-2.
“I think with all of the young talent, not a whole of playoff experience, and not having a playoff win since 2013 all were factors in the first two periods today,” Will Poplowski ’16 said. “Coach kept telling us that championship teams win these games despite that, and there was no doubt in my mind that we were going to win that game. We refuse to lose.”
In the final period of play it would be Adam Pitters ’17 assisting Graham Ryan ’16 in the front of the net that would put the Blue Devils up 3-2. Even though they were 0-2 on power plays, the boys were finding ways to score. Now it was left up to the defense.
With 1:30 remaining in the game, De La Salle would pull its goalie to gain a 6-5 man advantage, and this risk would pay off, leading to the unthinkable. A mad scramble in front of the net led to a Pilots’ goal with just 45 seconds left to force sudden death overtime. For South, it was both complete shock, and also an opportunity to regain composure in the locker room, McKillop said.
“It was pretty quiet (in the locker room), but our coach came in and told us that these are the games we were built to play,” Sommerville said. “It gave us a lot of confidence coming into overtime.”
From the drop of the puck in overtime, the boys dominated both time on attack and shots on goal. After six minutes of multiple scoring chances and near misses, Will Barrett ’15 finally broke the tie, slapping home a game-winning shot with 1:58 left to propel South over De La Salle 4-3.
“I just went out there waiting for our chance to get the game winning goal,” Barrett said. “I think we had confidence in the game that we played, and that sooner or later we would get a bounce that went our way. I think it’s definitely the best moment I’ve had thus far, but I still want that feeling to finish my senior season with a win.”
Early struggles and last-second miscues aside, the boys were able to grind out a hard earned win and continue to find success in the face of adversity. They aren’t a team built around flash, but were able to find balanced scoring through teamwork, which eventually led them to getting the win, McKillop said.
“They went out there, and I thought they dominated. They played great,” McKillop said. “I give these guys a lot of credit. We’re not the most talented team in the world, but we got a lot of courage, guys with a lot of heart, and we showed it tonight.”
The boys will square off Friday against Anchor Bay at 7 p.m. at Macomb in the Regional Final. The winner of this match-up will go on to states.
