Spartan boys snake-bitten in loss

LYNN – The St. Mary?s boys hockey team dropped a 2-0 decision to Hingham on Wednesday evening at Connery Rink, but the scoreboard was rather deceiving. The Spartans did all the little things right in the first two periods, but failed to beat Harbormen goalie Alex Bonn, who made 21 saves in the shutout.St. Mary?s (5-4-1, 2-1-1) knew it was in for a battle from the outset, having defeated Hingham, 3-1, just 11 days ago in the opening round of the Christie Serino Christmas Classic. Despite a loss this time around, Spartans coach Mark Lee was pleased with his team?s effort.?I?m very proud of the way our guys played tonight,” explained Lee. “The effort was there from start to finish. We had plenty of opportunities but their goalie came up huge and proved a big difference in the game. I have nothing to complain about tonight.”St. Mary?s came out with a lot of energy to start the game but the visitors were able to hold their ground. The Spartans out-chanced Hingham 5-3 in the period, the best opportunity coming from Eric Pedro, who was robbed by Bonn after breaking in alone from the blue line.Bonn was at his best in the middle period, making nine saves including four during a five-on-three. After drawing interference calls on Patrick Colpovs and Luke McInnis 12 seconds apart, St. Mary?s set to work on the power play but was rebuffed at all costs.The best chance came at the 7:18 mark when Spartans defenseman Chris Price found Jackson Allard for a one-timer from just inside the left circle. Bonn made a tremendous push across the crease to swallow up the chance.?They say the goalie is the most important penalty killer, and Alex proved that tonight,” said Hingham coach Tone Messina. “He played a terrific game for us tonight. St. Mary?s goalie (Bailey MacBurnie) was the difference the last time we played these guys so we owed them that.”Hingham finally broke the ice 3:48 into the third period after freshman Jeff Gordon, cruising the slot, tipped a shot from Michael Saleski at the point past MacBurnie. Fellow first-year Matt Demelis picked up the secondary assist on Gordon?s first high school goal.?Their goalie is so good and stops nearly everything he has a chance on,” said Messina of MacBurnie (15 saves), who had no chance on the play. “It took a good shot and perfect tip from the point to get us going and it proved the difference offensively.”Hingham picked up an insurance tally with 4:06 to play when McInnis put his shot from the slot inside the right post. Matt Egan and Jack Forbes picked up helpers.St. Mary?s best chances of the final frame both came in the opening minutes before Gordon?s game-winner. Andrew DiMaiti?s attempt to outwait Bonn after a move from in close proved fruitless before Dante Maribito fanned on a bouncing puck at the top of the crease with Bonn out of position.?We were a little snake-bitten at times tonight, but their goalie played a terrific game as did their entire team,” said Lee. “We played very well through the first two periods but in the end, it came down to us not finishing our chances. Hingham deserves a lot of credit for this win.”