Nothing has come easy for the St. Mary’s boys hockey team to this point in its season, so after failing to finish on any of its 14 shots in the first period of Saturday evening’s game with visiting Smithfield (RI), something had to give for the Spartans.
As it turned out, the second period was much kinder to the hosts who tallied three times en route to a satisfying 7-0 victory at Connery Rink.
?For the first time this season, we played three solid periods of hockey,” said coach Mark Lee who lauded his teams’ defensive play in front of senior netminder, Connor Jennings, who picked up his second shutout in as many games.
?With good defense comes a good offense. Our coaching staff has been preaching that kind of mentality all year long and it finally paid off for us.”
Senior blue-liner Clay Yianacopolus opened the scoring at the 6:12 mark of the middle frame before sophomore Eric Pedro and senior Austin Frankel scored 56 seconds apart late in the period, both goals coming on assists from sophomore Dante Maribito.
The onslaught continued over the final 15 minutes where Pedro sandwiched his second tally between finishes from seniors Shawn MacBurnie and Jon Powers (assist). Freshman Ryan Turrene closed the scoring with 32 seconds remaining.
St. Mary’s (2-5-2) looks to continue its winning ways tonight, at home, against Newburyport (8).
Winthrop 5, Saugus 2
At Kasabuski Arena in Saugus, senior Jonathan Griffiths scored goals before and after a wild second period where the visitors and host-Sachems exchanged two goals apiece. Winthrop got goals from Marc Ferullo and Pat Todisco in the frame, offset by tallies from Brendan Ronan and Chris Sanderson. Saugus (1-5) got two assists from Nik Straticos in the loss. Dan Brogan closed the scoring for the Vikings 5:50 into the third period.
Marblehead 4, Beverly 3
At Rockett Arena in Salem, trailing 3-1 after two periods, the Magicians staged an incredible comeback, capped by Braden Haley’s third goal of the game with 45 seconds left, securing a win. Dan Gieniezcko added a solo tally for Marblehead (4-3) who got 16 saves from Marc Scribner.
Hunter Spencer and Teddy Leathersich provided the Panthers with a 2-0 lead before Clinton Cabral’s tally 5:04 into the final frame set the stage for the visitor’s dramatics. Troy Doyle finished with 19 saves for Beverly who falls to 3-4.
Salem 4, Lynn 3
At Connery Rink, this one was especially brutal for the 1-4-1 Jets as the NEC South leaders scored with one second left to get the two points. Corey Wojewodzic, Mike Clougherty and Kyle Morrill had goals for Lynn.
Swampscott 2, Revere 1
Louis Olivieri ‘s goal, 43 seconds into the final period, proved the game-winner for the Big Blue, who improved to 2-5. Ryan Cresta (from Olivieri and Jack Poska) opened the scoring early in the second frame before the Patriots (2-4-2) cut their deficit in half on a tally from Dan Velente (from Anthony Cecca and Mike Giordano) late in regulation. Revere’s Maxx Anderson made 25 saves in net while counterpart, Trent Gallagher, finished with 15 stops.
Danvers 3, Peabody 2
At McVann-O?Keefe Rink in Peabody, Sean Lundergan?s tip in goal with 3.2 seconds left to go was the difference as the 5-2 Falcons won despite being outshot 34-22 in the game, leaving Peabody?s Mark Leonard looking for answers.
?We are playing good but we just can?t score,” Leonard said. “It?s frustrating.”
Danvers led 2-1 after a period on goals from Ryan Buchanan and Tom Mento sandwiched around Jason Marshall?s tally for the 1-4-1 Tanners. Peabody got the only goal of the second period on Cam Smullen?s power play marker at 14:38.
Xaverian 2, St. John?s 1
At the Foxboro Sports Center, St. John’s fell to 3-2, despite leading for most of the game following Nick Latham’s first period goal, assisted on by Tyler Scearbo. The visiting Eagles (3-2) finished 0-for-5 with the man advantage, helping set up a Hawks rally in the final frame where Ryan Walsh and Tim Sweeney had tallies.
Arlington Cath.