Marblehead icemen double up Big Blue, 6-3

SALEM – While Marblehead’s 6-3 decision of Swampscott at Salem State University’s Rockett Arena Saturday night behind two goals each from senior Trip Franzese and junior Tom Koopman seems fairly straightforward, there were lessons to be learned and applied by both teams moving forward.For Marblehead (2-0, 2-1), the early leader in the NEC South, closing out periods and playing with the lead are sure to be among Coach Bob Jackson’s talking points in advance of Wednesday night’s game at Gloucester. Marblehead held a 5-1 lead entering the third period but saw the Big Blue close to 5-3 before Franzese’s second goal sealed it in the late stages.”We have to learn to play with the lead, we have to learn to play in the last minute of the period and we have to be smart with our clock management. A lot of it is just the mental aspect and learning how to stay focused. You have to win the one-on-one battles, win shifts and win periods,” said Jackson.For Swampscott (1-1, 2-1), coach Gino Faia will address the need to stay out of the penalty box as his club prepares for the East Boston Deep Freeze Tournament later this week. Competitive at even strength, Swampscott found itself a man down five times and yielded three power play goals.”Three power play goals are just too much to come back from, especially against a team like Marblehead. We have to get back to doing the things we need to do to win. We didn’t quit, so I’m happy with that – it’s a positive note,” said Faia.Franzese, who transferred from Pingree, staked Marblehead to a 1-0 lead midway through the first period when he muscled through a Big Blue player to win a loose puck along the wall at center ice, moved down the right wing before cutting left and depositing a backhander over the glove of goalie Trent Gallagher.Koopman doubled the lead with a power play strike at 11:48, four seconds after Swampscott’s Joey Faia was sent off for tripping. Ian Maag won the ensuing draw and Koopman’s wrist shot from the inside rim of the right circle eluded Gallagher.However, the Big Blue played through to the final whistle and beat the clock when freshman Noah Maercklein’s turnaround half-slapper from the right circle caught the far corner over the right shoulder of Marblehead goalie Myles Barry (14 saves) with two-tenths of a second left in the period.That goal invigorated Swampscott, which controlled the first five minutes of the second period. However penalties assessed to Robert Serino and Cory Carmody resulted in power play tallies 40 seconds apart by Tom Koopman (at 7:57) and Matt Koopman (at 8:37), ballooning Marblehead’s lead to 4-1.”The power play made the difference – we moved the puck quickly and spread things out to create more opportunities. We did a good job of hitting the wide guy today,” said Jackson.Marblehead’s Erik Powers made it 5-1 with 1:28 left in the period, burying Trevor Jones’ cross-zone pass from the right circle.”We had a great start to the second period with all three lines applying pressure. Then the penalties came. We have to understand that when we’re doing things right, we’re a pretty good team,” said Faia.Undeterred, the Big Blue again controlled the early portions of the third period and cashed in on Nunzio Morretti’s power play tally with 12:31 to play and Serino’s weak-side finish of Trevor Massey’s set-up four minutes later. Jackson called a timeout at that point and, though the Big Blue continued to press, Marblehead closed it out with 1:02 left when Franzese finished off a 2-on-0 break, sent in clean by Tom Koopman.