Sachems Secure First Victory of the Season

Tom Johnson just couldn't help but look at the clock throughout the first period. For the first five minutes Belmont controlled the puck and played primarily in Winchester's zone.

Slow (1-1-2) most of the season. But the defending state champs had Michaela Chiuccariello. The senior found the back of the net five different times leading the Sachems to a 6-1 win over Belmont )2-3).

"We didn't play all that well in the first five or six minutes," Johnson said. "I kept looking at the clock because they had the puck for so long."

But as the first period ticked to the halfway point there was Chiuccariello scooping up the puck at center ice. She raced down the ice weaving her way around the Marauder defense and sliding the puck past the goalie giving Winchester a 1-0 lead. She ended up adding a second goal with a minute left in the first off passes from Alexis Zavez and McKenzie Tucci.

"It didn't feel like we lost this game 6-1," Belmont coach Mark Haley said. "We just give up too many goals."

Chiuccariello recorded her hat trick early in the second period. After the Marauders controlled the pace of play again, there was the senior forward waiting in front of the Belmont goal as Tucci glided the puck to Chiuccariello for the tap-in.

"I felt great this game," Chiuccariello said. "I knew we had to pick up the intensity and I was able to get free a few times and score."

Belmont closed to within two when Caroline McCarthy received a pass from Alexander Cellucci. McCarthy fired a shot that ricocheted off the goalie and trickled into the net.

Unfortunately for the Marauders, they were unable to continue that momentum into the third period as they were outscored 3-0 in the period.

"We played well early in the third period," Johnson said. "That was the first period where we really controlled the game. We had our chances to score and we finished."

Chiuccariello used her speed to skate past Belmont's defense for two more goals a minute apart in the third period. Tucci finished off the scoring for Winchester as the Sachems notched their first win of the season.

"We controlled the puck in the first and the second periods," Haley said. "But we couldn't finish and when they scored that first goal that stung us a bit. We came back in the second, but when they scored early in the third that took the wind out of our sails."

As for Winchester, the Sachems are relieved to get that first victory, but know they have plenty of work to do to get back to the state finals.

"We're still trying to put things together," Johnson said. "We're still trying to get used to one another. We can't rely on one kid to score five goals all the time. It's nice and we'll take it, but we need other ways to win."