Aaron Sosa scored the game winner with 1:03 left in the second period as Tewksbury defeated Westwood 5-3 at the Chelmsford Forum Saturday night in the semifinals of the MIAA Division 2 boys hockey tournament.
The win sends the Redmen back to the finals at TD Garden for the second time in three years.
Kevin Andriolo scored twice for the Redmen with Tyler Bourgea adding a goal and an assist.
Goaltender Cole Abruzi stopped 27 shots for the win as Tewksbury outshot Westwood 35-30.
Andriolo’s first goal was his 100th career point for the Redmen.
“It was great to see Aaron get the game winner tonight.” said Tewksbury coach Derek Doherty. “He is one of the nicest kids, he is a big kid who plays hard, and I was so happy for him. Kevin is one of the best players I have ever coached. I have never had a kid who can score, play such good defense and can stay on the ice. These kids just wanted to play good hockey so they could get back to the Garden, and they were able to do so.”
Tewksbury took the lead with 10:48 left in the first period.
Bourgea had the puck in the Westwood zone that was stopped by Westwood goaltender Sean Joyce. Andriolo was able to put in the rebound to give the Redmen the lead.
The Redmen were able to add to their lead while on the power play with 1:34 left in the first. Bourgea carried up the middle onto the Westwood zone. He broke through three defenders, sending a wrist shot past Joyce to give Tewksbury a 2-0 lead.
Westwood would be able to make it a one-goal lead 18 seconds into the second period.
Matty Donovan had the puck in the right circle of the Redmen zone. His shot was blocked, but Luke Martin was able to put in the rebound to cut the lead to one.
Tewksbury got that back with 11:34 left in the second.
Jackson Feudo had the puck in the right circle of the Westwood zone. He passed to Michael Macauda in front, who sent a one-timer under the crossbar to give Tewksbury a 3-1 lead.
The Wolverines were able to get that back with 5:19 left in the second.
Seb O’Brien carried into the right circle of the Tewksbury zone. He passed in front to Connor Blaney, who redirected the pass past Abruzi to cut the lead to 3-2.
Tewksbury was able to get that goal back late in the period.
Aaron Sosa stole the puck just inside the Westwood line. He sent a wrist shot on net through a screen past Joyce to give Tewksbury a 4-2 lead.
“I saw the open net and sent a shot from the boards hoping for a rebound,” Sosa said. “I was fortunate to find the back of the net. It was great to be able to do this in front of my whole family. We worked hard as a team this year to get back to the Garden, and it paid off.”
Andriolo later scored his second of the game with 11:24 left in the third period. He cut from the right circle getting past two defenders. He sent a drive just under the crossbar to give Tewksbury a 5-2 lead.
Westwood started to play desperate after that, forcing the play in the Tewksbury zone.
Abruzi made a great glove save in front of the open net with 7:08 left in the game.
The game became physical after that with both teams taking multiple roughing penalties. Westwood was able to cut the lead to two with 2:24 left in the game while on the power play.
Blaney scored his second of the game, but it was as close as they would get as Tewksbury held on to a 5-3 win.
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