Westfield ends Big Blue’s dream run, 4-1

BOSTON – Some time in the not so distant future, members of the Swampscott High hockey team will reflect upon and appreciate their numerous accomplishments during the program’s most successful season.Swampscott set a program record for wins (19), won its first tournament game in 44 years and claimed both the North Sectional and Eastern Mass. titles.Still, coach Gino Faia said the Big Blue were understandably an emotional bunch in the aftermath of Sunday afternoon’s 4-1 loss to Westfield in the Division 3 State Championship game at TD Garden.Click here for a photo gallery.”They took this hard – they’re hurting. But we’re proud of this season – we won the North title and the EMass title and set a record for wins. The [eight] seniors finished their careers at the Garden and we created a lot of excitement in this town,” said Faia.A huge Swampscott cheering section included hundreds of students.Faia confirmed the Big Blue were without Trevor Massey and Ryan Cresta for the game, both suspended for an MIAA rules infraction.”The guys who were in the lineup played their hearts out and I can’t be more proud of them,” he said. “We had our best practice of the season yesterday (Saturday).”Swampscott had a 13-10 edge in first-period shots but Westfield generated higher quality chances, creating several odd man rushes via quick counters.The Bombers’ Connor Sullivan made it 1-0 with 4:16 left in the period, finishing a 2-on-1 by re-directing Chris Sullivan’s pass from the left circle past the left skate of Big Blue freshman goalie Tristan Bradley (21 saves).Adam Collier netted the eventual game-winner with 40.2 seconds left in the period. Sent in clean by Sean Spohr, Collier cleaned subtly to the left before shooting back to the right past Bradley’s glove.Meanwhile, Bombers keeper Nick Liberto (19 saves) strung together a number of highlight reel saves in the first period. The best came at 6:35, when he denied Corey Carmody’s initial shot from the left wing and covered the follow-up; and at 8:26 when he dove left across the crease to turn away Griffin Hunt’s one-timer from inside the left dot.”He (Liberto) brought us here and he kept us in this game with some enormous saves. This game could’ve gone the other way real quick,” said Westfield coach C.B. Matthews Jr. whose teams now have won three Division 3 crowns – 2003, 2008 and 2013.After yielding 13 first-period shots, Westfield paid heed to the defensive end in the final 30 minutes, limiting Swampscott to seven shots for the remainder of the game.”We gave up some two-on-one goals but also had some great opportunities in the first period. In the second period we just didn’t get many pucks deep so we couldn’t forecheck and we didn’t get many shots,” Faia said.Little of note occurred during a defensive second period until the Bombers extended the lead to 3-0 with 2:48 left. Bradley got his right pad on Spohr’s shot from the right wing but the rebound caromed directly to Collier for the putaway tally.Big Blue senior Robert Serino provided a spark with 8:55 left in the game. Charging into the offensive zone after exiting the penalty box, he scooped up a loose puck behind the net, curled out and tucked the puck between Liberto’s left skate and the post to make it 3-1.Swampscott kept attacking but Liberto yielded nothing and Anthony Cagliostro’s empty-netter sealed it with 44.5 seconds left.”That (Serino) goal gave us some energy but we just ran out of time,” Faia said.