Earn key league win with 3-2 victory
Published in the January 15, 2016 edition
THE MHS Red Raider hockey team picked up a key league win against Wakefield on Saturday by a score of 3-2. (Donna Larsson photo)
By JENNIFER GENTILE
MELROSE — The Melrose Red Raider hockey team enjoyed a victory over fierce rival Wakefield on Jan. 9 beating the Warriors 3-2 at Kasabuski Arena in Saugus. Melrose saw a trio of goals from Darwin Anderson, Sean Connolly and Cal MacDonald while goalie Colin Kiernan tallied 15 saves for the night.
While it was a true back and forth battle in the first two periods, Melrose (2-7-1) had the overall advantage, taking 27 shots on the night and finding the net three times in the first period alone, which gave them an advantage they didn’t squander. Scoring first for Melrose from the blue line was Sean Connolly, who hit a shot past Warrior goalie Tyler Pugsley with 3:53 remaining in the first. At the Melrose net, goalie Keirnan denied Warrior scoring chances including an impressive save at the five minute mark but less than minute later Wakefield’s Pat Leary tied the game up 1-1 with an unassisted goal.
Melrose took advantage of a power play and regained the lead when a fierce scrum in front of the Wakefield net led to Melrose junior Cal MacDonald scoring on an assist by Zac Phipps, giving Melrose a 2-1 edge. Melrose scored their third and (ultimately) winning goal with 36 seconds left in the period when sophomore Darwin Anderson scored a beautiful one-timer on a pass from Steve Guttatauro for the Raiders to take a 3-1 lead.
In the second period Wakefield’s Anthony Funicella scored on a turnover and despite goalie contact with Melrose Kiernan’s (whose helmet was damaged) the referee’s conferred and called the goal which made it a closer 3-2 game going into the third.
Wakefield won 3rd period in small battles. Melrose played a more defensive style in an attempt to maintain the lead and Wakefield goalie Pugsley (24 saves) denied many scoring chances. Still Keirnan denied Wakefield scoring opportunities, even when they pulled goalie Pugsley late in in the game and led a fierce offensive attack. Melrose scrambled and had a difficult time getting the puck out of the zone but Keirnan held steady at the net.
In the final seconds of the game Melrose’s Darwin Anderson raced two Wakefield players for the loose puck and dove to poke the puck just out of the zone and the game ended in Melrose victory to wild cheers from the packed rink.
Despite a loss against Burlington on Jan. 6, Melrose underclassmen have shined. While Melrose is off to a relatively slow start to the season at 2-7-1, contributions from underclassmen have been impressive. Their three goalies this season have been a junior (Matt Bowers), sophomore (Colin Kiernan) and freshman (Mark Dewling), while much of their offensive punch has come from their sophomores like Darwin Anderson, Jack Wells and Shea Champagne. Freshman Liam Crovo has also proven an impressive defenseman, along with fellow frosh Adam Bain.
Some of these efforts were evident in their 9-4 loss against a very tough Burlington team last week. Burlington dominated in its entirety, though Melrose scored 4 goals in the 3rd period thanks to Liam Crovo from the blue line; sophomore Shea Champagne on a breakaway and sophomore Matt Campagna. Toward the end of the game Zac Phipps scored from the blue line.
