Lynn, MA – We took a trip into Lynn tonight to visit Connery Rink as the St. Mary’s Lynn Spartans of the Catholic Conference hosted the Winchester Red and Black of the Middlesex League. The Spartans started slow on Saturday night but with some great goaltending held on to win. Winchester dominated the first frame, outshooting the Spartans 15-2 in the first 15 minutes. Sophomore Spartans goalie Matt Smith stopped all 15 shots and the teams went to the locker room scoreless.
The Spartans still had a minute left on a man advantage to start the second and they took advantage just 19 seconds into the frame. Sophomore defender JJ Avery found the back of the net on a tic-tac-toe one-timer from Chase Collins. Sophomore scorer Aidan Fitzpatrick doubled the Spartans lead at the 11:46 mark when he picked up a loose puck in the neutral zone, barreled down the far side, dropped his shoulder and drove to the net burying a shot low far side for the unassisted tally. Winchester would be a bit unlucky, hitting the post two minutes later when they had a two-man advantage on a delayed penalty call. The Red and Black would get on the board though, cutting the St Mary’s Lynn lead in half when David Strong buried a Danny Collins give-and-go while both teams were down a skater 4-on-4. The second period would end 2-1 with the two-period shot totals at Winchester 21, St Mary’s Lynn 15.
The third period opened with some huge hits and the teams traded power play opportunities but the game remained 2-1. That is, until Fitzpatrick scored an empty netter for his second of the game late in the frame to make it 3-1. Winchester wouldn’t go quietly as Collins would notch a goal for Winchester with 11 seconds left, but ultimately St. Mary’s Lynn would hold on for the win. Final shot totals: Winchester 41, St. Mary’s Lynn 24.
Three Stars
- G Matt Smith, St. Mary’s Lynn
- F Aidan Fitzpatrick, St. Mary’s Lynn
- F Danny Collins, Winchester