Published in the January 7, 2016 edition
DOUBLE GOAL PERFORMANCE. Senior Forward Brian Cotter, 9, scored two of North Reading’s three goals against Masco. (Stephanie Tannian Photo)
By STEPHEN MARTELLUCCI
NORTH READING — Last Saturday night, the North Reading High hockey team defeated guest Gloucester, 4-1, at Merrimack College in the Hornets first game at their new home rink. With that victory, the Hornets improved to 4-0-1 on the year.
“That was a great non–league win for us,” said North Reading head coach John Giuliotti. “We jumped on them early and were able to set the tone.”
North Reading scored three times in the first period as Mike Driscoll scored the first two while Kevin Murphy had the third.
With 4:32 left in the game, the Fishermen scored on a tally by Evan Leaf to cut the lead to two.
The Hornets’ final goal came with 46 seconds left as Driscoll competed the hat trick with an empty net goal. Brian Cotter led the team in assists with three.
The Hornets outshot the Fishermen on net, 20-18, as goalie Nick Ponte (4-0-1) made 17 saves.
In the title game of the Kasabuski Christmas Tournament on Dec. 29, the Hornets tied Winthrop, 3-3, at Kasabuski Rink in Saugus.
Although Winthrop won the game in a shootout, 3-2, the game officially goes down as a tie by the MIAA.
“We carried the play for the most part,” said Giuliotti. “We just couldn’t deliver the final punch. We hit the post four times with two of them coming in the shootout.”
The Vikings scored once in the first period and the second period was scoreless. In the third, Nico Pastore and Driscoll scored to tie the game at two after the Vikings score in the first minute of the third to go up 2-0.
North Reading outshot the Vikings on net, 32-12, as Ponte made ten saves.
The next game for the Hornets will be on Jan. 7 as they visit Triton at Graf Rink in Newburyport at 7 pm. North Reading then will host Newburyport on Jan. 10 at 3 pm in a huge Cape Ann League game.
On Jan. 13, the Hornets face Lynnfield at the McVann-O’Keefe Rink in Peabody. Face-off for that game is 8:15 pm.
