Amesbury win is their second in three games
JUSTIN D’ANTONA scored the overtime winner against Amesbury on Monday in a 1-0 victory for Melrose boy’s hockey. (courtesy photo)
By JENNIFER GENTILE
SAUGUS—The Melrose High boy’s hockey team is now six games into their 2024-25 season and have secured two recent wins, including an overtime 1-0 thriller against Amesbury on Monday at Kasabuski Rink in Saugus to improve to 2-4 on the early season.
In that action, Melrose’s leader scorer Justin D’Antona came up victorious over Amesbury with the only score of the game in overtime for a 1-0 victory that was preserved by Melrose defense, including a stellar goalie performance by senior captain Matthew Fuccione.
“Matthew might have had 4,000 saves,” quipped his coach, Joe Ciccarello. “And Justin came up big again.”
To date, D’Antona has 4 of Melrose’s 6 season goals.
Melrose previously won in a 3-2 victory over Medford on Dec. 23 at LeConte Rink. Despite the Mustangs drawing first fire with an opening goal, Melrose bounced back quickly and scored three goals in the second period to assure victory. Melrose’s D’Antona had two of those goals and an assist, while Quinn Haggerty had the other goal and an assist. Melrose’s Ray Willis IV also had 2 assists. “Medford beat us last year, 4-1, and brought back their top guys. So to go to their barn and win was a big boost for our young team,” says coach Ciccarello.
Drawing up the lines for Melrose were Jack Feeney, Aiden Barber, and Charlie Hoskins, along with Quinn Haggerty, Justin D’Antona, Ray Willis IV, plus Mike Santos, Robert Pino and Ryan Arens.
At net, senior captain goalie Matthew Fuccione got the job done. “Fooch being Fooch,” says his coach. “Solid as usual. He’s our leader.”
Medford scored on a power play in the third but Melrose defense clamped down and got the job done.
“We played well most of the game,” notes Ciccarello. “They got that power play goal in the first 3 minutes of third but we held on rest of the way,” says the coach. “It’s important to start out strong, stay committed to team defense and our system will always put us in position to win games. Our goalie will always keep us in the game. Just got to make good on the chances when they come.”
On Saturday, Melrose hosted Bedford at Kasabuski Arena in Saugus and fell 2-0. The senior heavy Buccaneers challenged Melrose early, scoring quickly to make it a 1-0 game. “They are older and stronger than us for sure,” the coach said after the game. “We played better and with more desire in the second. On our power play we fumbled the puck and gave up a short-handed breakaway goal. Although we kept playing better and getting some chances, we couldn’t finish.”
The coach notes they are down a few players that put them at a certain disadvantage. “We have been without some of our top guys, Griffin Brady and our freshmen Declan McLean,” says the coach. “We miss both of these guys as they are key components to what we do.”
As they prepare for the thick of Middlesex Freedom League games, one thing the coach stresses is a fast start to games. “We can’t start out slow,” he says. “We get on our heels when we do.”
Melrose will host Watertown on Saturday evening at 7:20 p.m. at Kasabuski.
