Last modified: Friday, February 29, 2008 12:34 AM EST Mansfield goalie Ryan Kershaw flashes out the right pad to deny a Nick Masone (14) bid. (Staff photo by TOM MAGUIRE) Hornets skate on BY PETER GOBIS SUN CHRONICLE STAFF FOXBORO - Surrendering a pair of goals - not only within a 23-second span, but within the first four minutes of postseason play - was not the manner in which the Mansfield High hockey team anticipated beginning its quest for the MIAA Division 2-South Sectional Tournament title. However, Hornet senior goalie Ryan Kershaw came up with 34 saves, junior Shane Harrington collected a goal and an assist and sophomore Donny Washburn deposited the game-winning goal midway through the third period as Mansfield skated away from the Foxboro SportsCenter Thursday with a 4-3 decision over Quincy High in the first round. "I told the team, don't stray away from what we've done," said Mansfield coach Mike McGrath, whose fifth-seeded Hornets (16-4-1) will have a Hockomock League rematch with fourth-seeded Canton (14-4) in a quarterfinal-round game Saturday (4:30 p.m.) at the Gallo Arena in Bourne. The Hornets erased a two-goal, first-period deficit with a trio of second-period tallies - by Jon DiFlamines, Harrington and Will Gasson - and then gained a two-goal advantage when Washburn scored what proved to be the game-winning goal at 7:53 of the final stanza. The Hornets prevailed due to a superb effort in goal by Kershaw, who stonewalled and shut out the Presidents in the second period (13 saves) and then made another 10 in the third period, where Quincy had a trio of powerplay chances. And while the Presidents' Nick Masone scored out of a late-whistle, loose-puck situation on a powerplay at 9:56, Quincy was foiled by Kershaw and the Hornets' blueline crew of senior Taylor Mattus and a trio of sophomores, Greg O'Brien, David Roche and Mike Oser. "We didn't expect them to be as fast as they were," said Kershaw of Quincy, buzzing the crease, attempting to create second-shot scoring chances. "Our defense played excellent, they made the appropriate passes." Kershaw made a superb save on Quincy's Mark Gilbody on a breakaway bid in the final minute of the second period, then stunned the Presidents' Shawn Dowling on a point-blank shot in the third minute of the third period, both preserving the Hornets' one-goal lead. Washburn created the Hornets' game-winning goal with his own breakaway bid, his shot being turned aside by Quincy sophomore goalie Jeff Giordani. However, the Hornets' persisted in taking possession of the puck and O'Brien fetched it out of the left corner for Washburn, who tucked it home. "We're a team that doesn't give up," added McGrath. "We played a good first period, it was just a couple of breakdowns (which lead to the Quincy goals). The second period, we came out flying. This is what this team is about, hard work. You don't win 16 games without hard work." The Hornets got on the scoreboard as a result of having a two-man-up powerplay advantage within the first three minutes of the second period. DiFlamines deposited Mansfield goal No. 1, whacking in a rebound of a Mattus drive from the right point at 3:49. The Hornets pulled into a 2-2 tie with Quincy at 10:19, Harrington depositing a rebound under the pads of Giordani, who made the initial stop on a wrist shot by Roche. The Hornets gained the lead three minutes later, at 13:13, another powerplay goal. Gasson netted his 15th goal of the season, tipping in a rebound of a Harrington drive from the left point. "This is a team that likes playing for each other, they understand what teammates are," added McGrath of Mansfield producing four unanswered goals, while shutting out Quincy for a span of 31:30. "Quincy is a solid team, but we held our own, we did what we had to do. We produced goals." Quincy stunned the Hornets at the outset, Ted Walsh jamming in a rebound at the Mansfield doorstep at 3;11, then Zach McCau scoring an unassisted goal, flicking in a short side shot from the left at 3:34. The Hornets created nine shots and won five of nine faceoffs in the attacking zone during the first period, but went scoreless. Brendan Carroll had two good scoring chances (a backhander in the first minute, a wrist shot in the seventh minute) and Washburn flicked a rebound off the Quincy goalpost in the 14th minute. "Some kids were a little nervous, but kids love that stuff," added McGrath of the packed (and loud) house, the Hornets winning for the the sixth time over the past seven games. "That's what high school hockey is about, it's the best - the atmosphere was terrific."