PHOTO BY BOB ROCHE
Marblehead’s Aidan Gillis reaches around Saugus’ Brenden Patterson to get the puck.
By MIKE ALONGI
SAUGUS — Behind two goals from senior forward James McCarthy, the Marblehead boys hockey team took down the Saugus Sachems, 4-1, at Kasabuski Arena on Wednesday night. The win punched a tournament ticket for the Magicians (10-6-3).
Senior forward Braden Haley notched a four-point night with a goal and three assists, while Drew Cioffi added a goal and an assist. Senior goalie Ronan Cunningham had 18 saves in the win.
“The ice conditions weren’t the greatest out there tonight, but we talked to the guys about fighting through it,” said Marblehead coach Bob Jackson. “Once we got those two goals in the second, I think we were able to carry that momentum through the rest of the game.”
For Saugus (9-5-4), junior forward John Torres scored the lone goal on an assist from senior forward Brenden Patterson. Junior goalie Nick Sanderson had 27 saves.
“I think we competed hard and played well through the first two periods, but in the third I think [Marblehead] wanted it more,” said Saugus coach Jeff Natalucci. “I would’ve liked to see a little more from our guys in that last period, but we just have to keep working.”
Both teams came out flying in the first period, with each recording six shots on goal in the frame. Haley had a great scoring opportunity for the Magicians but missed the post, while Saugus got several good scoring chances on a powerplay midway through the period. But, both goalies stood tall in net and the first period ended as it started, at 0-0.
The Sachems got another powerplay chance early in the second period, but Marblehead’s penalty kill was rock-solid all night and didn’t allow anything close to the net, mainly due to the Magicians’ ability to block shots in the open ice.
Marblehead got on the board first with 7:35 left in the second. Haley sent the puck behind the net to Cioffi, who maneuvered around before flicking a pass out front to McCarthy, who fired a wrist shot from the slot right into the back of the net for the 1-0 lead.
After yet another unsuccessful powerplay opportunity, the Sachems were able to answer with a goal of their own. After a battle for the puck behind the Marblehead net, Patterson took control of the puck and sent a quick pass to Ronan, who was waiting next to the net. Instead of making a pass or skating out to get a better angle on the shot, Ronan flipped the puck up and scored top shelf on a shot from almost behind the net to tie the score at 1-1.
The tie was short-lived, however, as McCarthy cleaned up a puck in front of the net to take a 2-1 lead with 50 seconds left in the period.
There wasn’t any action in the third period until about four minutes left, when Cioffi grabbed a rebound from a Haley shot and deked past Sanderson to make it 3-1.
Saugus had more powerplay chances in the third period, but once again they could not find the net. The Sachems went 0-for-5 on the powerplay on the night.
“I thought we had plenty of good opportunities, but we just couldn’t finish,” said Natalucci. “Our puck movement was there, but they blocked a lot of shots. And even when we did get the shots through, we’re not going hard enough to the net. So we’ve got to work on it and get better.”
While Jackson obviously doesn’t want his team committing five penalties in any game, he was pleased with the way his guys killed them off.
“Penalties have been an issue for us all year, and we took some dumb ones tonight,” said Jackson. “It’s been a point of focus all year and will continue to be, but the way the guys fought through that adversity was good to see.”
After Saugus pulled its goalie with 1:35 to go, Haley was able to score an empty-netter to seal the win for Marblehead.
The Magicians will finish out the regular season with three more games, starting with a game against NEC foe Swampscott on Saturday at Rockett Arena in Salem.
Saugus will take on North Reading at Kasabuski Arena on Friday night.