Sachems stop reign

Divicenzo denies 2017 champs

WOBURN — It takes some power-play goals, some fortunate bounces and some timely saves to knock off a state champion.

Seventh-seeded Winchester had just enough of those plays to take down the defending Division 1 state champ No. 2 St. Mary’s, 3-2, at O’Brien Rink yesterday afternoon.

“(St. Mary’s) is a very good team and the defending champions,” said Winchester coach Bill Burns.

“I’m just really proud of my guys to go out battling the way they did.”

Freshman Robert Divicenzo racked up 24 saves, 10 in the final period, to help knock off the Spartans, who had appeared in the state championship contest the last two seasons.

Divicenzo came up with huge four stops early in the second while defending a 1-0 lead. He also made three more saves while St. Mary’s (12-7-4) was on a 5-on-3 at the 3:17 mark of the third.

“(Divicenzo) has been spectacular all year,” Burns said. “He was tremendous tonight for sure.”

Right before that frame, Winchester (14-7-2) made a statement in the second period as it outshot St. Mary’s, 14-8, and outscored the Spartans, 2-1.

The first tally came off the stick of freshman Sammy Vozzella as he redirected a shot from junior Luke Mix, who was credited with an assist, at the 4:36 mark of the second period to make it 2-0 Sachems.

A little over a minute later — just six seconds into a power play chance — senior captain Jim Kiley scored on a snipe into the upper righthand corner of the net off passes from senior captains Robbie Falso and Ian Wilson for a 3-0 lead for Winchester.

St. Mary’s finally got on the board with a goal on the man-advantage as junior Colin Reddy put in a rebound chance with 2:28 left in the second. Senior captain Anthony Bono and eighth-grader Davis Kinne were credited with assists.

Reddy also scored late to cut it to 3-2 with 2:02 remaining as the Spartans outshot the Sachems, 11-2, in the frame.

The first tally for Winchester came at the tail end of the first period as Falso flicked a shot on net a few steps in from center ice on a power play chance.

HERALD PHOTOS BY JEFF PORTER LAST LINE OF DEFENSE: Winchester freshman goalie Robert Divicenzo (1, left) makes one of his 24 saves on St. Mary’s junior forward Colin Reddy, then is mobbed by teammates (above) after their 3-2 victory yesterday in Woburn.