GLOUCESTER — For the first time in almost 71 months, the Bishop Fenwick boys hockey team has put together a three-game winning streak.
A pair of third period goals Monday afternoon helped the Crusaders pull away from Greater Lowell/Nashoba Tech, 3-1, to take an opening round victory in the Bank Gloucester Tournament.
It’s the first time since February 2020 that they’ve captured three consecutive victories.
“I liked our competitiveness in the third period and how we protected the lead after we got those two goals,” said Fenwick head Craig Seabury. “To get those big saves from Alex, then score twice more ourselves and settle down until the last minute … that was us playing with composure from that 12-minute mark of the third until about a minute left.”
Bishop Fenwick will now face Groton-Dunstable, a 6-1 winner over host Rockport in the day’s second contest, for the tournament title Tuesday at 2 p.m.
Goaltender Alex Anticevic, a junior who finished with 17 saves, made his two biggest within the first two minutes of the third period. With Fenwick holding onto just a 1-0 lead, he stopped Nashoba’s best player, captain Brody Simmons, on a partial breakaway to keep his team ahead. A little over a minute later, he stoned Logan Piasecki on another breakaway, this one with the back of his stick.
That seemed to inspire the Fenwickians, who produced twice at the other end of the rink in short order. Junior captain Chris Ferlito made it 2-0 at the 2:45 mark when he knocked in a rebound stick side. Less than two minutes later, junior right wing David Perez scored in similar fashion, converting a Giuseppe Lepore bid for his first goal of the season.
Although the Crusaders couldn’t nail down the shutout — Nashoba scored against Fenwick’s fourth line with their goalie pulled for an extra attacker and exactly one minute remaining as Ryan Walsh buried a Sal Arena rebound — they limited their opponents to just 18 shots on the afternoon.
Defenseman Noah Hammond had given the Crusaders a 1-0 lead in the first period after scoring his fourth goal of the young season. Receiving a pass at the left point, he ripped a shot on net that cleaning beat Vikings netminder Michael Dango high over his left shoulder.
There was just one penalty whistled the entire game, a tripping call against Fenwick midway through the third period. The locals killed off the 2-minute minor without allowing a shot on Anticevic.
Bishop Fenwick 3, Greater Lowell/Nashoba Tech 1
Bank Gloucester Tournament
at Talbot Rink, Gloucester
Bishop Fenwick;1;0;2;3
GL/NT;0;0;1;1
First period: BF, Noah Hammond (Stephen Rizzo, David Perez), 12:26.
Second period: No scoring.
Third period: BF, Chris Ferlito (Matty Martisaukas), 2:45; BF, Perez (Giuseppe Lepore), 4:22; GL/NT, Ryan Walsh (Sal Arena), 14:00.
Saves: GL/NT, Michael Dango 27; BF, Alex Anticevic 17.
Records: BF, 3-1-0; GL/NT 2-2-1.