EASTHAMPTON – St. Mary’s traveled to the Berkshire School to play Mt. Everett for a rare high school hockey afternoon game Monday. What a day!
The Saints played well, but fell just short 4-3.
The first period was played well by both teams with Saint Mary’s holding Mt. Everett to only four shots while getting off 12 of their own. The Saints were helped by a couple of penalties on the Eagles, which allowed them to be on the power play.
“We had our chances,” St. Mary coach Don Goodreau said. “Two power plays for us and we were able to get some shots off, but nothing found the back of the net.”
The second period, however, would turn out to be the downfall of St. Mary. Only seven seconds into the second period the Eagles were able to score right off the opening face-off. Things would turn worse for the Saints at that point.
St. Mary committed four of their six penalties of the game in the second period. Being down players for such a long time limited the Saints opportunities to go on offense. While the Saints were still able to get off several shots, they gave up 16 in the period. In the end the Eagles would score four total goals in the period and take a commanding lead into the final intermission.
When asked about the second period performance, coach Goodreau said: “We let in that early goal and that took our energy from us. We have to be able to bounce back from those type of mistakes.”
The Saints came marching back with a new level of determination in the third period.
Saint Mary’s got on the scoreboard 1:12 into the third period when senior Ashton Bourbonnais (Southwick) took a feed from senior Charlie White to beat the Eagles’ goalie. Less than two minutes later, the Saints struck again when junior Dominic Ceccarini (Westfield) scored on a pass from junior Colan Rock (Suffield, Conn.). Both goals were scored on the power play.
Saint Mary’s would get a third goal with just more than eight minutes remaining when White scorched the goalie with a blistering shot to the top corner.
St. Mary’s continued the pressure and even had 20 seconds of 6-on-4 hockey when the Eagles got called for a penalty and the Saints had pulled their goalie.
In the end, however, the time expired and St. Mary was unable to even the score. Coach Goodreau stated: “We played as hard as we could and just came up a little short. We needed to give the effort we gave in the third period all game and the outcome could have been different.
The Saints have already turned their attention to their next contest when they play Chicopee Comp Jan. 2 at Amelia Park at 8 p.m.
“We will get better and be ready,” Goodreau said.
Cathedral (WHS Co-Op) checks the opposition. (Submitted photo)
Cathedral (WHS Co-Op) 6, Martha’s Vineyard 2
Madison Pelletier, Brenna Hoar, and Katie Joyal scored two goals apiece to help Cathedral bounce back from a loss. Mackenzie Pelletier contributed two assists, and Lexi Levere had 21 saves for the Panthers.
BOYS’ HOOPS
HCSS 55, St. Mary 27
Kyle Koloski scored six points to lead St. Mary, and teammates Drew Collins, Jake Butler, and Andrew Ilnicki contributed five apiece.
Monson 72, Southwick 37
Matt Daley led Southwick (2-2) with nine points. Rams’ Tim McGrath netted eight.
Smith Voke 63, Gateway 49
Shane Mastello (15 points), Pete Cowell (13), and Don Haskell (12) each scored in double digits for Gateway in a road loss.
McCann Tech 51, Westfield Voc-Tech 27
Despite a strong third quarter, limiting McCann Tech to just four points, Voc-Tech fell. Tigers’ freshman Kenny Flores held one of the Tri-County League’s leading scorers, Shane Fuller, to just one basket, and Tyler French and Luis Santos delivered a solid effort.
GIRLS’ HOOPS
Westfield 38, Monument Mountain 31
Westfield’s Alicia Arnold scored a game-high 16 points, and Karly Mastello had nine points and 10 rebounds. Arnold and Grace Templeton made key free throws down the stretch to ice it for the Bombers.
JV GIRLS’ HOOPS
Southwick 50, Ware 10
Tori Richburg (10 points), Brooke Waite and Molly McGrath (9 points apiece), and Alyssa Cournoyer (8) led Southwick to a big victory Monday.
