Saugus icemen keep their tournament hopes alive

SALEM – Playing with no margin for error, the Saugus hockey team came to Rockett Arena knowing it needed a win over Swampscott Friday to keep its tournament hopes alive.It was the beginning of a four game in four day stretch for the Sachems and they promptly played a seemingly lifeless first period. But the Sachems rebounded and dominated the final two periods, scoring twice in each, to take a 4-1 win over the Big Blue.”There really was no excuse for how we started in the first,” Saugus coach Chris Connors said. “That being said, we really did play very well in the second and third.”The loss pushed the Big Blue to the brink of elimination. They play today (1) against Marblehead needing to gain three of four points in their final two games to head to the postseason.”I really thought we’d have more intensity knowing what we needed to do,” Swampscott coach Gino Faia said. “And that was disappointing.”The Sachems came out flat and nearly were behind immediately. Only Nick Hegarty’s stellar glove save on Justin Massey kept the game scoreless early.Saugus had a 9-4 shots on goal advantage in the first but Tyler Gallagher was equal to the task, turning aside all the quality chances the Sachems had.”We knew coming in that Tyler was a great goaltender,” Connors said. “And he’s been playing well lately.”Swampscott stole back some momentum late in the first and carried 1:23 of a Kurt Rodrigues roughing penalty into the second. But the Sachems killed off that disadvantage and set about pelting Gallagher with 15 shots in the middle period.Yet the game was still scoreless midway through when Saugus got a 1:30 5-on-3 advantage and failed to score despite several good chances. Minutes later, however, the Sachems finally struck as Mike Kotowski took Dan Groark’s ice-length pass and whistled a wrist shot past Gallagher to make it 1-0.”Our young guys have fought through so much adversity this season with everything that has happened,” Connors said. “And we were finally able to take advantage of a chance.”Just over a minute later, Saige Tait went to the net and fired home a Paul Andrews pass for his seventh goal of the season to stake the Sachems to a 2-0 lead heading to the third.Saugus again had to dodge an early Big Blue power play chance. But a second opportunity for Swampscott moments later provided the Big Blue with the ammunition to get back in the game.Anthony DiPietro did the damage as he fired home a Gino Cresta rebound at 5:44 to suddenly make it 2-1 and turn the pressure up in the building a notch or two.”Having a two goal lead is the toughest in hockey,” Connors said. “And we knew Swampscott wasn’t going to back down cause they’re playing for their lives too. That’s why coming back and getting a third goal was huge.”Saugus’ response came on the next shift when Tait blasted home a Drew Oxley drop pass to make it 3-1 with 8:38 to go. Three minutes later, Steve Groark’s power play blast insured that Saugus would take the ice tonight (7:10) against Lynn with much to play for.