Renzulli’s goal sends Fenwick boys hockey past Lynn Jets

LYNN – Five days ago, the Bishop Fenwick hockey team suffered a humbling 7-1 loss at the hands of Matignon. On Monday, the Crusaders decided to go back to basics, and it resulted in a 6-0 win over a red-hot Swampscott team.Wednesday at Connery Rink, the Crusaders continued that momentum against a tough Lynn Jets team, which had played them to a 3-3 tie earlier in the season. Chris Renzulli’s first goal of the season 1:39 into the third period proved to be the difference as Fenwick hung on for a 2-1 win.”We were struggling because we, the coaches and players, weren’t happy with how we’re playing,” Fenwick coach Bo Tierney said. “But the last two games, we’ve been a different team.”In the other locker room, it was a game that had Lynn coach Al Melanson scratching his head.”That was a very winnable game,” Melanson said. “The first 15 minutes were good and the last five were good. In between, we were nowhere to be found.”As much of a struggle as it was for the Jets (5-5-2) at times, they had several quality chances to get the game tied late in the third. But Craig Forrest came up with the big saves when he had to, including one on a Tim Shirley dump-in that hit a stanchion along the boards, forcing Forrest to dive across the crease to save the lead.”When you get good goaltending and are a good team and don’t play up to expectations, that’s hard to accept,” Melanson said.Renzulli’s game-winner was the only blemish that Jets goalie Turi Vitale allowed in the final two periods, where he helped keep Lynn in the game.”Turi played an excellent game,” Melanson said. “He came up with big save after big save, and that’s why I feel bad for him.”The two teams didn’t waste a lot of time in getting reacquainted with each other as the Jets had an early power-play chance but couldn’t take advantage.Fenwick (6-3-1) also failed to convert on a power-play opportunity but took the lead with 5:14 left in the first on Pat Doliber’s breakaway goal that beat Vitale 5-hole.The Jets had an answer with time ticking down in the first as Eric Bransfield took a Billy MacDaniel centering pass and rifled a quick shot past Forrest on the power play at 14:25 to tie the game at 1-1.”That first period was pretty good on both sides,” Tierney said.The second period belonged to the Crusaders, who outshot Lynn 10-2, but Vitale (who recorded a shutout against Salem over the weekend) and the Jets defense were up to the challenge.Mark Sparaco and Jordan Mizioch each had chances in close for Fenwick, but Vitale made a pair of pad stops to keep the game tied. The Jets also dodged a 26-second 5-on-3 chance for Fenwick as the game headed to the intermission still tied at 1-1.”In that second period, all three lines played their best hockey of the season,” Tierney said.Fenwick’s perseverance finally paid off early in the third when Mizioch’s drive from the blue line was stopped by Vitale. But Renzulli was right there at the left post to shovel home the rebound that put the Crusaders ahead for good.”Chris has been fighting the puck around the net all season and he hasn’t been able to score,” Tierney said. “But that was probably one of his biggest goals he’s had in two years here.”