SPRINGFIELD — Midway through the second period on Wednesday night, the Belchertown hockey team led Nashoba Valley Tech 2-1. The Orioles’ lead had already been cut in half, and the Vikings were threatening again. Kyle Bouvier intercepted the puck in the Belchertown zone and raced toward the net with no one in front of him but goalie Donald Rogers. 

The Orioles’ freshman netminder had been great all night. 

And that didn't change.

Rogers nestled a little bit in front of the net, and as Bouvier released the puck, he launched his body to his left and dove to make a save. The stop was crucial as it prevented the Vikings from tying it up, and helped No. 30 Belchertown eventually come away with the 4-2 win in the MIAA Division 4 Round of 32 at Smead Arena.

“It was huge to keep us in the game,” Belchertown head coach Derek Chandonnet said. “We didn't get those big saves earlier in the year.”

From defending the power play to making timely saves, the Orioles defense was once again solid throughout the game. But the big story here was the way it started.

Belchertown scored two goals in the first six minutes of the game, staking itself to a 2-0 lead early, creating some momentum in the process.

“It was real big (to go up 2-0 early),” Chandonnet said. “We tried to take advantage of them not playing in a while.”

No. 35 Nashoba Valley came into the game having not played since Feb. 11, and it was evident early as Ryan Fernandes’ first goal went unassisted, and then James Louden found Brady Moreau for his first of two goals on the night. 

“I feel like scoring that (second goal) put our team in the right direction,” Moreau said.

Through the first and majority of the second period, the Orioles weren’t able to take advantage of power plays, and still only had the two early goals on the board. That all changed when Moreau put the puck in the net with just seconds remaining at the end of the second period to make it 3-1. That marker gave Belchertown a two-goal lead yet again, and accounted for Moreau’s second goal of the game. Even though they didn’t capitalize on their other power plays, Chandonnet was happy with the effort.

“I thought our power play was really good. Our puck movement and rotations were great. And that's something we've been working really really hard at,” he said.

Despite having a clean first quarter, Belchertown landed in the penalty box often: the Orioles racked up seven penalties over the final two periods – including four in the third. Although it didn't come back to hurt them, it very well could’ve.

“It’s tough,” Chandonnet said. “It's an aggressive game. It's a physical game. We're just gonna try to impress upon the guys to keep their heads.”

Although the Vikings made it close late in the third, tallying to cut it to 3-2, the Orioles added an empty netter from Charles Fijal to seal the 4-2 win.

Belchertown (12-7) will have a quick turnaround as the team will travel to No. 3 Winthrop (16-3-1) on Thursday at 4 p.m. in the Round of 32.

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