While still a young program, the Anna Maria AmCats have the opportunity to do something on Saturday that could only have been dreamed about just eight short years ago. Playing as an independent team, there was no league to win nor easy way to qualify for the national tournament. Fast forward to year two in their MASCAC affiliation and the team is poised to follow their regular season title with a conference tournament win and receive the MASCAC auto-bid to the NCAA tournament.
“We should have, could have been there last year,” noted head coach David McCauley. “We lost to MCLA in the semifinal round last season in our building, so I hope what the guys’ learned is don’t take any team lightly and don’t lose! You need to win enough to get opportunities to play in championship games and these guys have played great down the stretch and have a chance to do something our program hasn’t done – win a conference title and play in the NCAAs.”
Coming into Saturday’s title game against Westfield State, the AmCats are riding an eleven-game win streak that produced a 19-5-2 mark so far this season. Pacing the offense are senior Braeden McKinnon (14G – 14A – 28 Pts; +8) and sophomore, Owen Barrow (14G – 12A – 26 pts; +11). Both players have produced when needed by the AmCats and delivered many important goals combining for five game-winning tallies between them.
“Braeden, Owen and Pearce [Baker] have all been really clutch for us all season,” noted McCauley. “I think our roster has had good balance which any team needs if you are going to win playoff-style games. We just need to play our game and stay focused for Saturday night.”
Backstopping the Anna Maria team, junior Matthew Hennessey has been stellar in his 22 starts for the AmCats. Hennessey has impressive numbers that include a 1.91 goals-against average and .941 save percentage while posting 17 wins for the AmCats. He has size and quickness and can steal games for his team as evidenced by his 1-0 shutout win over Salve Regina where her recorded 46 saves.
“No question that Matt has been great for us all season,” stated McCauley. “He gives us a chance to win every game and has been consistent in his preparation and performance throughout the season. He maybe has flown under the radar in conversations about goaltenders in the D-III ranks, but we wouldn’t be here without him and need his continued level of play to keep playing hockey in March.”
Despite sweeping the season series with the Owls by 7-3 and 5-3 scores and being unbeaten on home ice to date this season, McCauley and his staff take nothing as guaranteed knowing the stakes are high for both teams on Saturday night.
“We aren’t looking back at the regular season games,” said McCauley. “We are only focused on Saturday night and a game that features our harder more physical style vs Westfield’s finesse and skill game. They have some really good players on that team that want to win as much as we do so it’s going to come down to execution and who wants it more.”
Game time on Saturday is at 6:40 PM EST at Horgan Arena in Auburn, Massachusetts.