Sports
VIDEO: Greene's Goal the Game-Winner as Sachems Edge Waltham
Winchester boys hockey defeated Waltham, 3-2, to advance in the MIAA Div. 1 North tournament; Sachems face St. John's of Shrewsbury next.
Winchester freshman Brendan Greene's second-period goal proved to be the game-winner, as the Sachems edged out the Waltham Hawks, 3-2, in first-round tournament action Wednesday night.
With the win, Winchester moves on to the quarterfinals of the MIAA Division 1 North sectional. The Sachems will play St. John's of Shrewsbury on Saturday, at 4:30 p.m. in Chelmsford.
Wednesday's game at John Ryan Arena in Watertown had plenty of drama.
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After Winchester had regained a one-goal lead on a power play goal by Mark Martignetti, there was a moment in the second period when Waltham appeared to tie the game, 2-2.
But the referee ruled the puck had been kicked and disallowed the goal, which Waltham Head Coach John Maguire said was the right call.
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"Unfortunately for us, we always have trouble getting to the third goal," Maguire said. "We're stuck on two most of our games."
Both of the Hawks' goals were scored by Chris Maguire, the first of which tied the game, 1-1, at the 2:30 mark of the second period.
Martignetti's goal came four minutes later, and Greene would put the Sachems in front by two when he scored with three minutes left in the second period.
Winchester's Colin Edwards scored the lone goal in the first period.
Waltham put on sustained pressure in the third period, producing Maguire's second goal with 11 minutes left. But despite outshooting Winchester 17-4 in the period, the Hawks couldn't capitalize on an equalizer.
"That's how we're going to win hockey games," Winchester Head Coach Matt Spang said. "We stress our defensive zone. We did our job there, we took care of business and we got out of here with a win."
