Hockey: Lynnfield boys beat Triton to tighten the CAL race

Dylan Costa?s breakaway goal with one-tenth of a second left in the second period provided separation as the Lynnfield High hockey team dealt Triton its first Cape Ann League loss Saturday afternoon, 3-0, at Graf Rink in Newburyport.In the process, the Pioneers (10-2-1, 6-2-1) qualified for the State Tournament for the 13th time in coach Vin Mirasolo?s 15 years and moved to within two points of league-leading Triton.?They?re still in the driver?s seat but for us to go back up there and beat a team like that after losing there to Newburyport last week was huge for us. They have four or five big, skilled forwards but I thought our senior defensemen (Jeremy Young, Tyler Smith, Craig Anderson) played a terrific game,” said Mirasolo.Matthew Boehner gave Lynnfield a 1-0 lead at 9:07 of the first period, converting a Jon Aloise set-up.Costa?s second-period buzzer-beater was set up by quick transition off a blocked shot by Young, who chipped the puck to Festa for a quick delivery to Costa. He finished the scoring on an empty-netter with two seconds to play. Joe Bassi had 20 saves for the shutout.Revere 4, Peabody 4At McVann-O?Keefe, the hosting Tanners appeared to be in big trouble after Revere?s Chris Whalen staked his club to a 4-1 lead with his second goal at 1:18 of the third period.Peabody, though, responded with three goals in a span of 5:24, pulling even on Eric Costa?s goal set up by Mike Chiappini and Matt McIsaac with 6:44 to play.Revere keeper Joe Papasodora preserved a point for the Patriots with four quality stops in the game?s closing 30 seconds.Chris Whalen (two goals), Pat Bartoll (goal, assist) and Cam Whalen scored for Revere. Chiappini and Costa both had a goal and an assist for the Tanners while Reed Foster and Ryan McManus added third-period tallies and McIsaac had two assists. Goalie Joe Powers turned back 26 shots.Peabody (3-4-1 NEC North) is now 5-5-1 as its loss to St. John?s Prep does not count toward tournament qualification. Revere stands at 3-6-3 (1-5-3 NEC South).Beverly 6, Salem 0At Salem State, the Panthers (7-5-1, 4-4-0 NEC North) rolled behind senior Colby Irving?s first career hat trick and goalie Bryce Mitchell?s (seven saves) first career shutout. Sophomores Connor Irving, Kevin Lally and Jake Straw also scored for the winners. Salem slipped to 1-12-0 overall.St. John?s 3, Xaverian 0In Foxboro, the Eagles (9-4-0, 3-3-0) picked up their fifth straight win.They have posted three shutouts and outscored opponents, 27-2, during that stretch. Sam Kurker scored at 12:32 of the first period and again at 7:15 of the third and Tyler Bird sealed it with 2:40 to play.?(Dave) Letarte played a great game, and made a couple of huge stops in the second period. It was a good team effort, a strong defensive game and an important conference win,” said coach Kris Hanson.St.Mary?s 2, Williams 2In Braintree, Tommy Braswell?s goal with 3:58 remaining in the third period secured a point for the Spartans (11-1-2, 5-0-1), who twice came back from one-goal deficits to stretch their unbeaten streak to 13 games.Jarrod Fitzpatrick scored in the second period and sophomore goalie Bailey MacBurnie finished with 15 saves.It was the first league point surrendered by the Spartans, who remain firmly in control of their own destiny with two games in hand on co-leader Austin Prep.?Bailey played another great game, stopping several quality shots.?We lacked energy and left our work ethic on the bus. We need to play with more discipline and intensity,” said coach Mark Lee.Swampscott 2,Gloucester 2At Talbot Rink, the Fishermen (5-5-4, 3-3-3 NEC North) forged a tie on Mike Mondello?s third-period tally. Swampscott (6-6-3, 3-4-2 NEC South) carried a 2-1 lead into the final 15 minutes as Gino Cresta sandwiched two goals around a tally by Gloucester?s Johnny Interante. Ryan Cresta, Nunzio Morretti and Matt Videtta all had assists for the Big Blue.Pat Sheehan excelled in goal with 30 saves.?It was a good, hard-fought game by both teams. I thoug