Big Blue survive, sack Headers in North semis

BILLERICA – All Swampscott needed was a chance. A freshman goalie, a senior-laden defense and a bit of a history lesson gave the team just that.With second seed Marblehead prowling in the Big Blue zone for much of the opening two periods of yesterday’s Division 3 North semifinal, netminder Tristan Bradley and a staunch D kept things tight. The game’s third – and most crucial – goal was Swampscott’s, and the third-seeded underdogs rode that momentum to a 4-1 upset and a date in the sectional final Saturday at Stoneham Arena (4:30, against the winner of last night’s Bedford-Shawsheen game).Click here for a photo gallery.Memories of two lopsided regular-season losses disappeared with every save Bradley made, 28 in all, and a brick wall led by senior Chris Dandreo that kept at least a half-dozen other shots from reaching the freshman. Even with an opening-minute goal from Nunzio Morretti waved off due to the net being slightly off its mooring, Swampscott was even with the Headers going into the final 15 minutes.”I gave everything I had because I didn’t want to be the guy that let the team down,” said Dandreo of his dirty work in front of the Big Blue cage. “We had to come out and have our best game of the season, the best game of our careers.””We were honed in, focused and ready to go,” said senior forward Corey Carmody of the team’s attitude going into the third. “We knew we could take them if we kept playing our game.”Bradley stoned Ty Bates and Liam Gillis early on and Dandreo swept a loose puck out of his own crease, setting the stage for an epic late-stage momentum change.Trevor Massey stole the puck and fed Carmody, who swept past a fallen defenseman. Gliding in alone from left to right in front of Headers goalie Harrison Young (17 saves), Carmody tucked it home via the 5-hole with 2:01 left and the game was over.Marblehead managed just one shot the rest of the way and Carmody locked down the win with a pair of steals and two empty-net goals.”Before the game, I (reminded them) of the 2007-2008 team,” said head coach Gino Faia. “We shut out (Marblehead) both times during the regular season, we were clearly the favorite in the tournament and they beat us in overtime. We wanted a little payback and it couldn’t be any sweeter.”Without a doubt, this is the greatest season in Swampscott history,” Faia said. “You just have to give all the credit to the boys.”But even with that, breaking a 44-year winless skein in the playoffs, then knocking off a highly-regarded rival, the Big Blue still needs another win to make it to the TD Garden and the Eastern Mass. finals.”I’ve just got to make sure that this didn’t become our championship game,” concluded Faia. “It feels like it, but we’ve got to refocus, enjoy this win and come out ready to prepare (today).”