Third-string goalies don’t usually make 58 saves against the most successful hockey program in state history.

Mike White  did.

He’s no longer the third-string goalie at Natick High.

“That goalie is going to win them some games,” Catholic Memorial coach Bill Hanson said after his team had just set a program record by firing 100 shots, 62 of them on net, Saturday night, yet scored just four goals against Natick.

The 4-0 loss for the Redhawks was disappointing, but there was a feeling that something special happened.

Catholic Memorial took a bus all the way out to William L. Chase Arena to play Natick. Hanson’s mighty Knights don’t play just anyone. And public schools? Good luck. CM played five public schools in a 19-game season last winter, and three had Super 8 appearances on their resume.

“Probably a little stubbornness on my part,” Hanson said of his usually demanding schedule, which he has tried to lighten, but his idea of an easier list of opponents would still make most coaches queasy.

Natick may have started the winter 0-1. But there’s little doubt that it was the most important season-opening game in program history.

“That says something about where our program is headed,” said fourth-year coach Karl Infanger . “I’ve been trying to build a program where you have to play the Catholic Conference schools, but they won’t play anyone that will hurt their strength of schedule.

“So it’s taken a few years to build a program high enough to gain a respect enough for some of those big-time teams.”

The Redhawks were a losing team when Infanger took over in 2009. They’ve been to the Division 1 South sectional tournament each year since.

Last year’s run to the Division 1 South final, after finishing the season 8-8-4, put their school on the radar of Hanson and other area coaches.

Following the sudden death of senior Justin Bailey in January, Natick put together one of those magical postseason winning streaks that lessen the importance of experience and talent compared with heart and hustle.

“They were playing for something a little more than just their school,” Infanger said.

Natick also had stellar goaltending from Bay State Conference All-Star Derek Kwok . It had the commitment from the coaching staff and mutual commitment from the players. And it had two great talents.

Andrew Newis  and Matt Kustra  combined for 37 goals and 69 assists, almost half of the team’s scoring output.

Newis graduated, but Kustra, a lacrosse player who happens to be just as good on the ice, returns for his senior year and could be the difference between a visit to the TD Garden and putting the equipment away early.

Kustra did not play Saturday. Neither did senior defenseman Andrew Watkins, who was healing from a concussion. His loss forced the speedy ­Derek Butler  to play on the blue line.

But when it all comes together for Natick, it looks like one of the rare public schools that could make a splash.

“Most people think last year was a fluke,” Butler said. “But I think last year is something to build on. We know what we have the potential to be. We have to work for it.”

And then there’s the team’s senior goalie.

White spent last year as the relatively unknown third-stringer, who teammates say was usually quiet.

His recent experience comprised one period for Natick High last winter, and split minutes in one game per week with the town team this fall.

“I wasn’t sure what to expect,” he said. “I was excited to see what I could do.”

Infanger says White has looked inconsistent during the preseason, perhaps unfocused at times, though the talent is certainly there.

It was like he was bitten by a radioactive spider before Saturday’s game.

Three times in six minutes, White stopped breakaway attempts from Catholic Memorial’s Liam Coughlin, a senior from South Boston who is getting recruited by Hockey East colleges. White stoned point-blank one-timers. He was near-perfect on first-chance efforts, only getting beat when the constant attack around the crease became overwhelming.

“He just rose to the occasion,” Infanger said.

Natick has the pieces. It’s a public school with sights set on prestige.

Others can take note: Shoot for the stars, and you might become one.

Four story lines to watch

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