DALTON, Mass. -- Jeremy Girard scored five goals, and the Wahconah defense held visiting Belchertown to just five goals in a 15-5 win in the first round of the Central/Western Massachusetts Division 3 tournament.

 

Girard also assisted on three goals as seventh-seeded Wahconah (15-4) advanced to Thursday's quarter-finals at No. 2 Nipmuc (14-4).

 

"Jeremy Girard came to play," Wahconah coach Zach Sondrini said. "He’s a dynamic player. He’s proficient with both hands and always dodges to feed but can also sting the outside shot. He makes his teammates better."

 

Dart Jaggi had a hat trick, and Dayton Kozlowski set up five goals.

 

Dom Orlandi and Joe Whitaker split time between the pipes, combining for six saves.

 

"ke Fortin, Corey Bazonski, Matt Fortin, Trey Massaro and goalie Dom Orlandi led our defense holding a strong offensive Bellchertown to only five goals," Sondrini said. "Our middies won the groundball battle today despite a very good faceoff guy on Bellchertown, Ben Labiberte.

 

"It was a rare position to be in this season when our faceoff guys weren’t winning the draws but they adjusted well and were able jam them enough to make it a ground all battle."