MC takes it outside
When the Malden Catholic hockey players began the walk from the clubhouse to the outdoor rink set up at Fenway Park yesterday, they did so with hopes of a repeat of their last Catholic Conference battle with Xaverian, when two late goals in quick succession sealed a victory.
The Lancers came through again, and then some. Brendan Maloney, Ryan Noonan and Tim Matthews all scored within a three-minute span of the third period, and MC held on for a 4-3 Frozen Fenway victory.
“(Playing at Fenway) was really special,” Noonan said. “It was something I’ll never forget. You don’t get to do this very often. I’ll probably never get to do it again. But every game, we try to come into it the same way.”
Cam Delvalle opened the scoring for the Lancers (31-2) with a goal late in the first period. The 1-0 lead would hold until the third period, when the Hawks (1-3-1) tied the contest on an Egor Borschev goal. The game didn’t stay tied for long, as Maloney put the Lancers ahead for good four minutes later.
“Keep things simple, get pucks to the net,” Noonan said. “And when you do it good things happen.”
Two late goals from Matt Ryan brought Xaverian back within one, but the MC defense held firm when it mattered most.
For Lancers coach John McLean, the win was No. 100 of his career.
Latin Academy made the most of its scoring chances in the second boys hockey game of the day at Fenway, a 7-4 win against East Boston in a Boston City League encounter. The Dragons (60-3) did all of their scoring on just 18 shots.
“This was a classic opportunity,” LA coach Dan Cuddy said. “Hats off to Eastie. They’re having a great season. Really tough battle.”
The Jets (7-2-0) rallied to tie the game at 4-4 thanks in large part to the Lockhead brothers, John (three goals) and Kenneth (four assists).
The Dragons needed a spark, and they got it in Ryan Lonergan, whose hat trick was completed in the third period.
“We won it in the third,” Cuddy said. “Ryan Lonergan had a coming-out party. Eastie and Latin Academy have battled for the city championship every year, and this year’s no different . . . this rivalry, it was great at Fenway Park.”
John Day made 25 saves for his fourth shutout of the season as North Reading (80) defeated North Andover, 3-0, in nonleague action.
Kyle Browne’s hat trick led Bishop Feehan (4-3) to a 7-2 rout of Martha’s Vineyard in the Eastern Athletic Conference.
In the South Coast Conference, Joe Hess and Chase Lapworth each scored a pair of goals and Bourne (52) beat Apponequet, 5-2.
Girls hockey
Kate Yaxter scored twice, and Deidre Burchill posted a goal and an assist to reach 101 career points, as Braintree (4-0) defeated Dedham, 5-2, in the Bay State Conference.
Rachel Tassinari scored both goals for Boston Latin (7-0-1) as they edged Haverhill/ Andover, 2-1, in Merrimack Valley/Dual County League play. . . . Hannah Keefe had a pair of goals and two assists as Westford Academy (4-1-1) blanked ConcordCarlisle, 6-0.
A four-goal effort from Cassandra Davis powered Quincy/North Quincy (5-1-1) to a 5-2 win against Scituate in the SEMGHL . . . Summer Walsh’s goal with one minute remaining lifted DennisYarmouth (3-1-1) by Martha’s Vineyard, 1-0.
Boys basketball
Melvin Cuevas excelled on both ends of the floor, finishing with 21 points and five steals as Fenway remained perfect on the season (7-0) by topping CASH, 78-56, in a Boston City League game.
Girls basketball
Ali Vienneau registered 16 points, 10 steals and five rebounds for Essex Tech (43) in a 43-28 victory against Rockport in a nonleague matchup.
Co-ed swimming
Austin Desmarais won the 200- and 500-meter freestyle races, and Jaenald Javier won the 50-meter free and 100-meter breaststroke to lead Greater Lowell Tech (5-0) to a 9077 nonleague win against O’Bryant.