SALEM — With the state tournament quickly approaching, it’s important for postseason-bound teams to play their best hockey. The Marblehead boys hockey team took another step forward in doing so during Saturday’s 4-1 win over Northeastern Conference rival Winthrop at Salem State’s Rockett Arena.
“We’re getting there,” Magicians coach Chris Wells said. “This month we’ve been a little bit up and down, inconsistent. But just like with every season, there are always bumps on the road. But we’re improving. We want to go in the playoffs in full stride, playing our best hockey. We’re in a battle for our conference too so this win was big. We have two more conference games left so hopefully we can win both of those.”
Will Shull paced Marblehead’s offense with two goals. Loch Sheridan and Zach Piersol scored one goal each. Carter Laramie dished two assists and Aidan Jalbert recorded one assist. In net, Peter Santeusaino logged 19 saves.
A swift start paid dividends for the Magicians in this one. Before Winthrop could get settled into the game, the Vikings found themselves in a 1-0 hole after Sheridan turned one of Laramie’s assists into the game’s first goal just 15 seconds into the contest. Shull added a power play goal midway through the period, bumping Marblehead’s lead to 2-0. That’s where it stayed at the first intermission.
“The past two games, we’ve had good starts,” Wells said. “This first period was great. The only problem was the next period. We scored a third goal and they were all over us after that. Teams like that, if you get a chance to put your foot on the gas you have to get on them.”
The Vikings found themselves with a golden opportunity to chip away at Marblehead’s lead early in the second period. Marblehead was whistled for roughing and tripping penalties within seconds of one another, giving Winthrop just over a minute of 5-on-3 play. But with Santeusaino stepping up to the challenge, Marblehead weathered the storm and escaped the threat unharmed.
“I can’t credit (Santeusaino) enough,” Wells said. “He’s been phenomenal during my two years here. He always seems to make the big saves to keep us in the game when we’re down. He’s unbelievable. He’s done a great job and he’s been a great leader.””
Shull’s shorthanded goal with 10:21 left in the second stanza put Marblehead up 3-0. Winthrop got one back before the close of the period, when JD Parker found the back of the net on Jonathan Lanza’s assist to close the gap to 3-1 at the second intermission.
Piersol’s picture-perfect slap shot from the circle with 2:47 to play sealed the win.
“The approach (during the third period) was to get back to the way we were playing in the first period,” Wells said. “We had to play simple hockey. Winthrop was trying to slow the game down on us a little bit. I said ‘let’s just keep it simple, get the puck on their end and keep it out of our end.’ With a two-goal lead if we keep the puck out of our net, we win the hockey game.”
Marblehead (11-3-3) travels to Saugus for another NEC battle Wednesday night (7:10). The Magicians close NEC play Saturday against Swampscott (1).
“I’m hoping to see everything we’ve been working on come together,” Wells said. “Special teams, our forecheck, neutral zone play. Just kind of everything tighten up to just get ready for the playoffs so that we’re at full speed for the playoffs.”
Winthrop (7-7-3) travels to Peabody Wednesday (5:15).
