Swampscott hockey team scores late power-play goal to tie Saugus

Christian Mielcarek / For The ItemTwo simultaneous penalties with 1:27 remaining in the third period gave Swampscott a five-on-three advantage and a final chance to come back against Saugus.With one blow of the whistle, Sachem players were sent to the box for boarding and slashing, and sixteen seconds later, A.J. Zarinsky took the feed from Keith Morgan and Jake Donahue and beat the Saugus net-minder to tie the game at 2.The Big Blue (3-3-3) were not able to make the most of their one-man advantage in the waning moments, and the Sachems were not able to score their second short-handed goal of the night, and the game ended in a time.”Once again, we’ve been the third period kings,” said Swampscott coach Gino Faia. “We played physical, fast, aggressive and good defense. I figured if we hung tough something would happen.”The Sachems (5-3-1) opened the game strong and led 2-0 at the first intermission thanks to two Mike Scuzzarella (5,6) goals. But, according to Saugus coach Chris Connors, his team grew complacent after the opening period and allowed Swampscott to dictate the flow of the game from the second period on.Although the Sachems outshot the Blue 20-18 for the contest, the Swampscott defense was able to hold their opponents to just three shots in the third period, giving them as much time as possible to even the score.”We knew it was going to be a battle, and the kids hung in there tough,” Faia said.Despite Connors admittance his players’ intensity level was not the same in the latter portions of the game, he was not happy with two late penalties called against his squad.”Hats off to Swampscott. They played hard,” Connors said. “But, both were very questionable calls. I’m not one to complain, but both were very questionable.”At the 12:43 mark in the first period, Scuzzarella scored his first goal (assisted by Anthony Cacuzza and Tom DiFriai) on a give-and-go to provide his team an early lead. With 57 seconds left, Scuzzarella scored his sixth goal of the year, short-handed, with a low slapshot from the high slot, and Saugus entered the first admission up 2-0.”I’m proud of the way my team played,” Connors said. “They fought through a lot of adversity. We took six penalties, and (the Blue) capitilized with 1:11 left.”While Saugus played well early but not as well after, Swampscott did the opposite, stepping up their play after a tepid beginning.Blue defenseman Jake Donahue scored midway through the second period (5:32) to cut his team’s deficit in half. Donahue jumped up into the play and took the feed from Zarinsky and beat the goalie low stick side.”It was a nice little cross and drop, and Jake snapped a nice low shot,” Faia said.Sachem Paul Essery made 17 saves in the tie and earned mention from his coach.”I can’t say enough about his play,” Connors said. “For the last minute and a half, he was really under siege.”Tyler Gallagher made 16 saves for Swampscott.The two teams will face off again Saturday at 6 p.m.