NEC hockey teams take it on the chin

The Division 2 North boys? hockey tournament historically has been one of the hardest for a team to win because upsets tend to throw the bracket into chaos.
On Saturday, a pair of Northeastern Conference teams experienced that firsthand while a third nearly pulled off a huge upset before being eliminated.
The upsets came in the form of No. 11 Haverhill knocking out No. 3 Winthrop, 3-2, and No. 6 Masconomet upending No. 3 Marblehead by the same score on Anthony Mancini?s goal with 90 seconds left in regulation.
No. 10-seeded Peabody carried a 2-0 lead into the third period against powerful North Reading only to see the No. 2 Hornets score five unanswered goals in the third period to take a 5-2 victory.
For the Magicians (15-6-1), it was a day of missed chances as they outshot the Chieftains, 30-21, in the game.
Marblehead took a 1-0 lead late in the first on Danny Gieniesczko?s goal, assisted by Ryan Jones and Nate Witherell. But Masco (14-6-1) tied the game in the final seconds of the first on Garrett Lafata?s rebound goal and then took the lead at 12:12 of the second period on a power-play tally by Mike Castro.
Marblehead answered on the next shift as Tim Kalinowski netted a goal, assisted by Braden Haley and Cam McDonald, to make it 2-2 through two.
It stayed that way until Brandon Lafata made a great play along the boards to get the puck to Mancini for a shot that beat Mark Scribner.
Peabody (10-9-3) had stuck to its script of hemming the Hornets (18-4) in for most of the first two periods but Mike Driscoll?s goal 29 seconds into the third was the ignition North Reading needed.
Less than two minutes later, Jared Vadale scored a power-play goal and the game was tied. Two minutes after that, Peabody was suddenly in a 3-2 hole when Tyler Calos was set up by Driscoll and Jared Potter at 4:35.
The Tanners would continue to try to get even but Pat Driscoll?s empty-net goal with 1:03 left put the game away.
?It?s a tough way to end the season, especially being up 2-0,” Peabody coach Mark Leonard said. “But they were a better team than us.”
Winthrop (16-4-2) spotted Haverhill (10-7-5) a 2-0 first period lead and it proved costly. Dylan Driscoll scored a power-play goal at 6:30 of the second, assisted by Pat Todisco and Mark Ferullo, to cut the deficit to one.
Haverhill?s Konnor Fitzpatrick responded with what held up as the game-winning goal just over a minute later. The Vikings struck in the first minute of the third on freshman Henry Brooks? tally but couldn?t get the equalizer despite controlling most of the period.
GIRLS? HOCKEY
Beverly/Danvers 3, Haverhill 1
The No. 9-seeded Panthers (14-5-1) earned a date with No. 1 Reading in the Division 1 quarterfinals on Tuesday at 7:45 p.m. in Watertown with the victory. Sophomore Izzy Primack scored goals in each of the first two periods to lead the offense.
McKinley Karpa also had a second period goal while defenseman Caitlin McBride finished with a goal and an assist for Beverly/Danvers.
WRESTLING
Prep?s Butterbrodt goes out in style
For the third time in his career, St. John?s Prep?s Ian Butterbrodt claimed a state championship as he won the 220-pound division at the All-State finals at Salem High on Saturday.
The win improves the senior to 56-0 for the season as he will try to defend his New England championship this weekend at North Andover.
In the finals, Butterbrodt trailed early against Arlington?s Nick Rose but he rallied in the second period to take a 6-4 lead and then held on in the final period.Danvers? Quintin Holland also was a finalist in the 152-pound category where he finished second to Triton?s Luke Boyle. Holland?s second place, and a third by Chris Behen at 138 pounds, helped the Falcons to finish sixth as a team with 59 points.