LYNN — After last Monday’s 2-2 tie against No. 3 Hingham, second-year St. Mary’s boys hockey coach Matthew Smith was asked about his message to players moving forward.
“Just believe,” said Smith, whose Spartans are ranked No. 10 in Division 1. “I think these kids are really starting to believe in themselves now. They’re showing, these last few weeks, that they can compete with anyone in the state.”
Well, belief was in the air at Connery Rink Saturday night. The Spartans took down No. 13 Arlington Catholic, 2-1, to win the Catholic Central League title.
Cam McGonagle scored the game-winning goal with 10:13 remaining in the third period and Matthew Smith Jr. turned away 19 shots. JJ Avery scored earlier in the game, while Stephen Nason, Smith Jr., and Maddox Jacobsen compiled assists.
The Spartans (11-3-1) outshot Arlington Catholic (8-5), 33-20.
“Our forecheck was relentless,” Smith said. “They couldn’t even pull their goalie at the end of the game because of the forecheck. It was a total team effort.”
Smith Jr.’s second-period assist was a “game-changer,” according to Smith.
“They changed all four guys at once. He saw that and zipped it up to the far blue line and we went in on a 2-on-0 for the first goal of the game,” Smith said.
From there, St. Mary’s allowed just four shots in the third period – two from the neutral zone.
The Spartans return to Connery Rink at 6 p.m. on Wednesday against top-ranked Pope Francis.
