WESTFIELD – Members of the Westfield High School hockey team delivered an early Christmas gift under the trees of their families and friends in the form of an unbeaten (3-0) record.
Westfield won its third straight game to begin the 2012-13 high school hockey season, defeating Westborough 4-0 in its home opener Friday at Amelia Park Ice Arena.
Sean Spohr led all scorers with a hat trick (3 goals) for Westfield, which took a 2-0 lead in the first period, and added a goal in each of the second and third periods. Anthony Cagliostro had a second-period goal.
Cagliostro and Nate Barnes each had two assists. Connor Sullivan and Neil Parrow Each had one.
Westfield goalie Nick Liberto finished with 22 saves.
Despite the victory and a 3-0 start, Westfield coach C.B. “Moose” Matthews said: “We’re still a work in progress.”
The Bombers will attempt to build on that mark next weekend during a three-day tournament at Salem, N.H.
GIRLS’ HOOPS
Gateway 59, St. Mary 19
Brooke Fairman netted a double-double with 18 points and 13 rebounds to help fuel a big victory as Gateway improved to 2-1 Friday night.
Gators’ Chelsea Derrig chipped in 12 points, including two 3-pointers, and Ariel Baillargeon had a solid defensive effort, finishing with seven steals.
It was the first complete effort of the season from tip-off to the final whistle, said Gateway coach Eli Robbins, whose team finally started to find its footing in the second half of its win over Pioneer Valley Christian School.
“Players started to realize they are not just role players anymore,” Robbins said. “And that carried over tonight.”
Despite the loss, Jeanette Peretti had one of her best all-around games as a St. Mary Saint.
“Jeanette was very active, all around the basket … rebounding, playing defense,” Saints’ coach Dave Breglio said. “She had a nice game.”
Pioneer Valley Christian School 40, Westfield Voc-Tech 28
The Westfield Voc-Tech girls’ basketball team rallied to outscore Pioneer Valley Christian School 21-18 in the second half, but it was too little, too late as PVCS held on for a 40-28 win on Friday.
Pioneer stormed out of the gate with a 14-2 lead.
“It was a tale of two halves,” said Westfield Voc-Tech coach Matt Seklecki said. “In the second half, we actually played much better. At least we won the second half, it was just not by enough.”
Brandi Vangelder led Westfield Voc-Tech (0-2) with 14 points. Tigers’ Nadine Tran had seven.
“It was a tough hole to climb out of,” Seklecki said. “There were some flashes of hope. We’re hoping to build on that and turn things around.”
BOYS’ HOOPS
St. Mary 66, Holyoke Catholic 41
Justin Crosby scored a game-high 22 points, teammates Matt Plasse and Anthony Garde contributed 17 and 15, respectively, and St. Mary’s bounced back from a loss to improve to 2-1.
“We really played well defensively,” St. Mary coach Joe Molta said. “It was a really good effort from our kids once again.”
