By Ryan O’connor
 

Spaulding had won 40 consecutive Division II games and two straight state titles headed into this season.

Its only blemish this year came was a 6-3 setback on Dec. 22 at Timberlane.

Still, the 7-1 Red Raiders took notice when they saw 6-3 Bow waiting on Saturday, Jan. 19.

“Their coach has a lot of respect for us as a program. Everyone else gets up for them. He said we’re one of the teams his squad gets up for, us and Dover,” said Bow coach Tim Walsh. “They didn’t need a wake up call from us; they already knew.”

Playing at home, the Falcons held a 1-0 lead from the first minutes of the contest – when freshman Tyler Estee knocked a rebound off a Brett Borbidge shot into the left corner of the net – right through one minute, 20 seconds left in the regulation.

That’s when 2007 D-II player of the year Jamie Ferullo knotted the game on a power-play goal.

Bow held on for the tie, but Walsh said the late goal knocked the wind out of his players.

“The kids did everything I asked them to do,” he said. “I was more disappointed for the kids, that we played so well and nearly shut down the best player in the state, and didn’t win the game.”

Unfortunately, said Walsh, his players couldn’t match their intensity two days later when they hosted 8-1 Timberlane.

The Falcons were dominated from start to finish, dropping the contest 6-1.

“I guess you can call it a Spaulding hangover,” said Walsh. “This doesn’t come anywhere near our best effort”

Estee scored the Falcons’ lone goal, ricocheting the puck off a defenders skate and into the net.

Though Bow has struggled at points this season, upset by now 3-5 Alvirne in its first game, losing to Timberlane twice, and falling to Goffstown, 6-5, Walsh said this is not a rebuilding year for his young squad.

The players, he said, just need to realize that each and every opponent has Bow circled on the schedule, and they need to be ready every time they lace up the skates.

“We’ve won a lot of games in the last seven years, so we’re not sneaking up on anybody anymore. We did that five, six years ago,” said Walsh. “I mean, Timberlane won last year in overtime, and you would have thought they won the Stanley Cup. We’ve been one of the top programs in Division II for awhile now, and everyone knows it.”

After winning three games in a row and five out of six prior to the Spaulding contest, the Falcons were picking up momentum, said Walsh.

Now, if they are to earn a high seed in the postseason, perhaps even host a first-round matchup, they need to start clicking again, immediately.

Up next for Bow is 3-3-1 Kingswood on Saturday, Jan. 26.

“They’re a very well-coached, very disciplined team,” said Walsh. “They work hard and don’t give you anything easily.”