AMHERST — For the first time in four years, the Greenfield ice hockey team is tournament bound.
In its first year after taking on players from the now-disbanded Turners Falls program, the Green Wave picked up win No. 10 Thursday afternoon.
Senior forward Evan Simmons scored two goals and assisted on another as Greenfield kept Belchertown under wraps in a 4-1 victory at the Mullins Center Practice Rink.
Simmons, who lives in Easthampton and attends Smith Academy, needs one point to reach the 100-career-point milestone.
“I’m wicked excited,” said Simmons of his squad reaching the postseason for the first time since 2014. “Just missing (the tournament) by one point last year, that was heartbreaking. So I’m wicked excited to go my senior year.”
Greenfield, which went 1-19 in Simmons’ freshman season, improved to 10-4-1 with the victory, 3-0-1 in the Wright Division.
“These kids have come a long way,” Greenfield coach Adam Bouchard said. “The biggest headache we thought we’d have was everyone gelling together but it’s been a cohesive team since the beginning.”
Riding the offensive skill of Greenfield’s top line, the visitors struck first late in the opening period. Bryan Baumann staked his team to a 1-0 lead with just 38 seconds left, as he roofed a shot from the slot over the shoulder of Belchertown goalkeeper Jake Delaney.
Not satisfied with a one-goal cushion heading into the first intermission, Greenfield struck again. This time it was Simmons, who assisted on the first goal along with Doug Hanieski, that found the back of the net. With five seconds remaining, Simmons tucked a rebound home and doubled the lead to 2-0. Hanieski and Baumann earned assists on the play.
“We really mix well,” Simmons said of the top line. “There’s a lot of talent here. We’re clicking as a line.”
Hanieski, a junior from Frontier Regional, redirected a shot from Bryce Jordan with 9:48 left in the second period, giving the Wave a 3-0 advantage.
That lead held until the third period, when Belchertown (3-4-4, 2-3-0) clawed back to make things a bit more interesting. Greenfield goaltender Riley Drew (12 saves) made three consecutive point-blank saves in a penalty-kill situation, but the Orioles struck for their lone tally when Matt Pacheco backhanded a shot that pulled the hosts within 3-1 with 6:36 to play.
“Belchertown’s a good team and they gave a great effort,” Bouchard said. “That goal to make it 3-1, that forced us to really tighten up.”
The momentum was short-lived however, as Simmons notched his second goal of the night with 5:08 left when he pounced on a failed clearance and made no doubt about it with a blast from close range for a 4-1 lead.
Greenfield held a 26-13 edge in shots on goal. The low shot total was due in large part to a stout defensive unit that locked things down inside the blue line. Jacob Bryant, Mike McGoldrick, Alec Jordan, Bryce Jordan, Cam Barnes and Cam Rice all made key plays in front of Drew.
Simmons next chance for point No. 100 is Saturday. The Green Wave host Wright Division-leader Easthampton (7-2-4, 4-0-1) at 5:30 p.m. at Collins-Moylan Arena. The two teams skated to a 3-3 tie when they met Jan. 3 in Easthampton.
“We’re looking forward to that challenge,” Bouchard said. “They’re a really good team and a tough test so we’re going to have to be ready when they come to our rink.”
The game holds special significance for Simmons, who will certainly recognize some familiar faces on the other end of the rink.
“It’s my hometown team so it would be amazing to get (the 100th point) against them,” Simmons said.