Roundup: Cresta’s hat trick leads Swampscott past Saugus

Gino Cresta had a hat trick and an assist as the Swampscott hockey team took a 6-2 win over Saugus at Kasabuski Arena on Monday in a Northeastern Conference/South tilt.The Big Blue (5-2-0, 2-2-0 NEC South) scored twice in each period and got a stellar 34 save effort from Tyler Gallagher in the net.”We took advantage of our opportunities,” Swampscott coach Gino Faia said. “Saugus came out hard and never quit and I give them credit for that.”The game was scoreless until the final 63 seconds of the first period when the Big Blue struck twice. Justin Massey scored with 1:03 left before Cresta got the first of his three goals 26 seconds later.Matt Videtta made it 3-0 Swampscott early in the second before the Sachems (1-5-1) fought back. Drew Oxley was set up by Steve Groark at 4:24 and Ralph Paglucca added an unassisted goal six minutes later to cut the lead to one.Cresta, however, struck again with 1:24 left in the second to restore a two goal lead heading to the third. DiPietro scored at 3:42 of the final period before Cresta capped his hat trick with a shorthanded empty net goal at 14:41.DiPietro had two assists along with Sean Lannon for the Big Blue.”It wasn’t our best effort,” Faia said. “But its good to get a division win.”St. Mary’s 12, Matignon 2At Connery Rink in Lynn, the Spartans (5-1-0, 2-1-0 Catholic Central League/Large) had eight different goal scorers and 12 players record points in the win.Corey Bartlett; Brendan Mageary; James Perkins and Julian Yourawski each had two goals to pace the Spartans. Bobby Mullins added a goal and four assists while Cam Kennedy had a goal and two assists.Doyle Somerby and Eric Rosengren also had goals with Nikko Markham, Casey Goll, Mike Restuccia and Justin Levine also having assists.”We played three solid periods,” St. Mary’s coach Mark Lee said. “It was a good team effort.”GIRLS HOCKEYBeverly 1, Masco 0At Talbot Rink in Gloucester, Clare Leathersich’s goal with 4:31 left in the third was the difference as the Panthers (4-1-2) knocked off the Chieftains.Goaltender Brianna Jackson was outstanding, turning aside all 18 Masco shots she faced to get the shutout.”Brianna has played well the last couple of games,” Beverly coach Fiona Rice said.BOYS BASKETBALLSt. Mary’s 51, No. Camb. Cath. 35At Conigliaro Gym in Lynn, the Spartans (3-2, 2-1 Catholic Central League/Large) exploded for 30 second half points to break open an three point halftime lead.Ronsanto Campbell led all scorers with 19 points and 12 rebounds for St. Mary’s. Nick Gagliolo added 14 while Devin Campbell had eight steals.”We were a little sluggish in the first half,” St. Mary’s coach Kevin Moran said. “But we picked up the intensity in the second half.”Winthrop 78, Saugus 56At Winthrop, Rob Swanson buried six threes to help the Vikings (7-0, 5-0 NEC Small) roll to a comfortable win.Swanson and Jake Connors each had 18 to lead Winthrop. Mark Jenkins added 16 as the Vikings trailed by one after the first quarter before taking a 39-24 lead into halftime.Omar Benabicha led all scorers with 24 points for Saugus.Chelsea 53, Peabody 44At Peabody, the Tanners (1-6) played well for three quarters according to coach Dominic Coleman but were unable to rebound from a 10-point deficit after the first quarter.”We just struggled to make shots in the first and to overcome that the rest of the way against a good Chelsea team was challenging,” Coleman said.Brian DeAngelis had 19 points and 11 rebounds for Peabody. Kyle Boyce added 10 in the loss.Essex Aggie 59, No. Central Charter 38At Essex Aggie, Lynn’s Keith Mercurio poured in 14 points for the Rams in the win.GYMNASTICSDanvers 140.4, Winthrop 137.25At Winthrop, Lynn’s Kayla Knight was a winner on the bars (9.4) and was second on floor exercise (9.0) and the beam (8.25) for the Vikings. Fellow Lynner Sam Amico was third on beam (8.1) and fourth on vault (8.0). Danika Dell’Anno of Winthrop took second on the bars and in floor.In the Vikings’ win over Peabody last week, Knight swept the all