Boys Hockey: Peabody stays red hot with win over Lynn

The Peabody boys? hockey team opened the season at 1-5-1, leaving coach Mark Leonard wondering if it was going to be another frustrating season for his team. Now, following his team?s 2-1 win over the Lynn Jets on Wednesday at Connery Rink, Leonard?s team is only two points from a playoff berth.
?These guys have really shown their character,” Leonard said. “We were at 1-5-1 and we were finding ways to lose games. They have fought hard to turn it around.”
Both teams came into the game needing the two points and it showed as there was plenty of hard hitting and brilliant goaltending from Lynn?s Jack Stafford (30 saves) and Peabody?s Aaron McDonnell (21 saves).
The Tanners (8-7-2) scored first as J.T. Eason scored his second goal of the season, assisted by Reed Foster and Ryan Carney.
The Jets (6-9-2) responded with a solid second period and tied the game just past the midpoint when Mark Brazell scored his 11thgoal, assisted by Brett Molea, to send the teams into the third deadlocked at 1-1.
Peabody took the lead back with 9:00 left when Owen Brewster and Jason Marshall set up sophomore Chris Gillen for what held up as the game winner.
?It was a highly competitive game,” Lynn coach Joe Conlon said. “I have to commend my kids for the way they battled. These were two teams playing desperate hockey. Peabody happened to make one more play than we did.”
St. Mary?s 3, Matignon 1
Sophomore Dante Maribito had a pair of goals as the Spartans improved to 10-6-3 after starting out 0-4-2.
?It was a nice effort from the entire team,” St. Mary?s coach Mark Lee said. “We played really well.”
Maribito gave St. Mary?s a 1-0 lead after one before freshman Max McKay increased the lead to two goals at 6:17, assisted by Shawn MacBurnie and Connor Foley. Matignon cut the lead to 2-1 late in the second before Maribito scored midway through the third to close out the scoring.
Swampscott 7, Rockport 3
Ryan Donnelly had two goals and an assist while Ryan Cresta added two goals to help keep the Big Blue (7-10) in state tournament contention. Mike Johnson had a goal and an assist with Anthony Springthorpe and Stevie Santanello also netting goals.
Winthrop 2, Mansfield 1
The Vikings (13-2-2) were in a 1-0 hole entering the third period but rallied to win in a game that coach Dale Dunbar said felt like a tournament game.
?Being down 1-0 in the third, it was nice to see us comeback,” Dunbar said. “We never expected to be (13-2-2) because we have so many young kids playing. They?ve all done a good job.”
Charlie Page got the tying goal early in the third, set up by Alex Anzuoni and Matt Tarantino. Anzuoni then won it for Winthrop with 2:56 left, assisted by Page and Pat Todisco.
Austin Prep 5, Bishop Fenwick 0
The Crusaders (5-8-3) battled against one of the state?s top programs, getting 40 saves from goaltender Bobby Lombardi.
It was a 1-0 game through one period before Austin scored twice in the second and third periods to pull away.
Danvers 2, Gloucester 1
The Falcons (11-5-2) got the go-ahead goal on a power play from Steve Ganley with 9:42 left and goaltender Alex Taylor made it hold up from there.Danvers took a 1-0 lead just 91 seconds in on Ryan Buchanan?s goal before Gloucester?s (8-6-2) Sal Costanzo tied it up at 5:02 off a Jared Favazza centering pass.