Tyngsboro, MA – The MassNZ team made its way out to Skate 3 Arena to take in the home opener for Westford Academy Grey Ghosts against the 10th-ranked Spartans of St. Mary’s Lynn. Funny enough, our first game of the season last year also featured the Spartans so that was not lost on us as we took our seats pregame. There was an anticipatory buzz in the air as the new season kicked off, but admittedly it was a bit of a sparse crowd that began to fill in more as the first period went on. Regardless, this was a great opportunity to see how both teams had grown since last season and we were ready to go.
In the first period, the ice was decidedly tilted in favor of the Spartans as they turned up the puck pressure and did not let up for all 15 minutes. They got things started early in the offensive end as a loose rebound on the far side of the net left an open goal mouth for sophomore Geovanni Capo, making it 1-0 Spartans 1:42 into the frame. Following that goal the bench was fired up and line after line continued to dial up pressure and it was a struggle for the Grey Ghosts to leave their defensive zone. To their credit however, Westford Academy were able to break through a few times to create offensive chances. The Spartans would add another tally five minutes later on the power play as junior Aiden St. Pierre found a loose puck in the crease and took three whacks at it, eventually scooping it behind the goalie to make it 2-0 St. Mary’s Lynn. That would be our score after one period of play.
In the middle frame, the Grey Ghosts came out of the locker room with more jump and controlled the first two minutes and set the tempo. They were not able to get very many shots on net, but they did step up their puck possession. Still, the Spartans remained undaunted and worked their way back into control by winning battles and getting to loose pucks first. Four minutes in they would increase their lead as a shot by senior defenseman JJ Avery sat loose for classmate Colton Carpenter who buried to make it 3-1. Just two minutes later they would another as St. Pierre teed up Avery for a one-timer that he blasted past the goalie: 4-1 St. Mary’s Lynn. Another five minutes elapsed and the Spartans continued to own the pace of play. They would add another tally on top of it as sophomore Cam Marchand flipped the puck top shelf on the breakaway. Full credit to the Grey Ghosts as they did not pack it in, ultimately coming back and scoring their first as junior Nick Kane dished in stride to freshman Colton Carmichael on the breakaway for the tuck: 5-1 was our score. The Spartans got that score right back 30 seconds later as sophomore Cole Alexander tallied his first varsity goal to make it 6-1 on the rebound. That is where we stood after 30 minutes of play.
In the third period, once again, the Spartans took control and refused to let up off the gas pedal. Any chance Westford Academy may have had to tighten the game up was dashed less than a minute in as Alexander teed up St. Pierre for a one-timer bomb to make it 7-1. At that point, with a six-goal lead reached, the clock entered running time territory and the game simply slipped away in the following 14 minutes. The Spartans added a couple more Grade A looks and Westford Academy had one or two of their own, but it was purely academic at that point. The Spartans would take the win and move on to face Archbishop Williams next.
Three Stars:
- F Aiden St. Pierre, St. Mary’s Lynn
- D JJ Avery, St. Mary’s Lynn
- F Cole Alexander, St. Mary’s Lynn