Hockey Headers make it two in a row
After getting their first win of the season against Danvers on Jan. 17, the Hockey Headers (2-8-1) had to wait a week to make it two straight, which they did against Masco at Haverhill’s Valley Forum last Saturday night, Jan. 24, 4-3.
Can this be the start of another miraculous comeback like the one two years ago, which propelled that group to the state title? Only time will tell, but first-year coach Brendan Locke is still thrilled that his club has reversed that negative trend with still 10 games left on the regular season schedule.
The team’s second win of the year was powered by Teddy Dulac, who finished up with two goals and one assist against the rival Chieftains.
The Marblehead boys set the tone early on in the game. Just minutes into the first period, Dulac threaded a perfect feed to Holden Ferreira, who completed the scoring play with his sure shot on net.
But Masco came back with two goals to take the lead, before Dulac changed the momentum with a shorthanded tally. “(Dulac) intercepted a pass, and (immediately) accelerated up ice, before ripping it past the Masco goal,” said Locke.
The score was now tied at two after one period. The Marblehead boys were then able to reclaim the lead in the second period after another Masco turnover. Ryan Frary finished it off with the go-ahead goal, before Dulac appropriately netted the game-winner late in the middle period after turning in a great individual effort with a rocket shot that beat the Masco goalie top shelf. Between those two Marblehead scores, Masco tied it up at three.
Neither team scored a goal in the third period, but the Marblehead defense, led by goalie Bowden Laramie, made sure it did its part to maintain the slim lead. Laramie finished up with 21 saves, as the winning is starting to become habit-forming for these Headers.
Shorthanded wrestlers keep on competing with fine efforts
The Marblehead High Black & Blue co-op wrestling team (3-10) lost a tough match to the Salem/Hamilton-Wenham co-op on its Senior Night, Jan. 21, at Salem High School, 52-27.
“Kudos to Coach Cliff and his squad, they put on a great show with cross mat intros under a spotlight. That was very cool,” said Marblehead coach Mike Stamison.
Kenny Drolette (113-pounds), captain Liam O’Brien (138), Andrew Delisle (157), captain Colin Hart (175) and Phineas Jakious (215, via forfeit) were the Black & Blue winners against the Witches. The visitors also won three of the six exhibition matches, all by pinfall.
On Jan. 17, the Black & Blue wrestlers lost a quad meet at Billerica to the likes of Lawrence (59-15), Greater Lawrence Tech (72-11) and host Billerica (48-28).
“It was a very disappointing showing, but there were some bright spots that should be acknowledged,” said Stamison.
Greater Lawrence Tech defeated the Marblehead co-op, but O’Brien avoided the shutout with the team’s lone win. Young seventh grade grappler Eliott Donato (113-pounds) had the opportunity to raise his hand in victory after securing a win by forfeit. Freshman Connor Zundl was credited with an exhibition win.
O’Brien and Hart won their matches against Lawrence, both by pinfall. There was also the gritty 9-8 win by Delisle, who had the decisive takedown to go up by one with 20 seconds to go in the match.
“We had our best showing on this day against the host Indians,” said Stamison.
Sophomore Anna Cruikshank and freshman Connor Zundl recorded exhibition victories. There was then a solid major decision 11-2 win for O’Brien, who got the team’s varsity scoring going. It was followed up by two sweet wins by pinfall from freshman Nolan Glass and Hart. “That one of Nolan’s best matches in his young high school career to date,” said Stamison.
Junior Colin Homan picked up a win by forfeit, and after a no contest at 215, senior Xavier Tejeda displayed his endurance in a heavyweight matchup. He was trailing, 3-0 going into the third period, before the coaching staff made the change to start him on top. He was then able to turn it around and pin his opponent as time was running out.
“If we were able to have another match go our way, the final score would have been much closer,” said Stamison. “This is why it is imperative that kids show up. I (still) don’t know why wrestling is treated differently than any other varsity sport in terms of commitment.”
