Malden Catholic wins Super 8 title on emotional day

BOSTON – Mission accomplished for the Malden Catholic hockey team.With coach Chris Serino looking on from the stands as he fights throat cancer, the Lancers gave their so-called “father” a boost of morale as Mike Iovanna broke a 1-1 tie with 6:58 left in regulation and Casey Fitzgerald added an empty-net goal as the Lancers won back-to-back Super 8 championships with a 3-1 win over BC High.”Our mission was accomplished,” MC coach John McLean said. “I am so proud of these kids. They have been through a lot this season and for them to do this for (Serino), they dug down and did a great job.”The Lancers (20-1-4) had a 32-12 shots on goal advantage but BC netminder Peter Cronin was phenomenal in keeping his team in the game. The Eagles actually had a 1-0 lead after the first on Sam Topham’s goal at the 1:59 mark but after that it was all MC.Cronin held the fort until Brendan Collier finished off a 2-on-1 with Ryan Fitzgerald late in the second period to tie the game at 1-1.”We didn’t play well defensively in the first but I thought we were great in the second and third periods,” McLean said.The problem for MC was that Cronin was showing no signs of cracking, even as the Lancers continued to buzz in the third period.BC had a power play chance midway in the third but failed to generate anything against former teammate Connor Maloney. Moments later, Iovanna cut to the slot and was able to slip a quick shot past Cronin for the game-winner.”Peter is a great goalie and he stood on his head,” McLean said. “But I was never worried because of the confidence I have in this team. I know we’re going to score goals.”BC pulled Cronin for an extra attacker with a minute left but relentless forechecking from Collier and Ryan Fitzgerald never let the Eagles get anything going up ice. Casey Fitzgerald’s 180-foot empty-netter with 4.1 seconds left polished off the emotional win as the Lancers saluted Serino when time expired.”After the second period, we drove the point home,” McLean said. “What Chris is going through is a life-and-death situation and the kids wanted to do it for him. I know it brought him a lot of joy.”