WEST SPRINGFIELD — A flurry of third period goals and a stingy defense helped the Greenfield hockey team defeat East Longmeadow, 3-0, at Olympia Ice Center on Thursday night.
The teams played dead even through 30 minutes in the Berry Division contest. Neither team could find the back of the net. The victory avenged an earlier loss in the season to the Spartans.
“It was a fantastic hockey game,” Greenfield coach Adam Bouchard said. “Two teams playing hard. There was a lot of cat and mouse games out there. Changing strategy, changing strategy back and forth. One thing we said was if we raise our energy level a little bit higher, keep our emotions flat, good things will happen.
Things quickly changed in the third period when Nico Siano broke the scoreless tie on an assist from Luca Siano. Nico Siano slowly approached the goal after a forecheck from his brother and sniped it glove side high to give Greenfield a 1-0 lead four minutes, 22 second into the third.
“My brother forechecked hard for me,” Nico Siano said. “He got the puck into the slot and I went and chased it down. I came around the circle and shot it and it went in.”
Luca Siano scored on a power play less than a minute later with the assists coming from Nico Siano and Wayde Bardwell. Nico Siano scored his second goal on an assist from Shawn Baumann with 6:27 left in the third period. The defense held from there for the Green Wave.
“It was a heartwarming moment,” Luca Siano said of his brother’s goals. “It brightens up my day to get on the ice with him. So many people only get so many chances to play with their little brothers. Whatever that sport is. To be able to do mine in the sport of hockey is a lot of fun.”
The Spartans generated 22 shots but really didn’t have many quality scoring chance in the game. The Green Wave made some adjustments to their forechecks. Jack Laurie dinged two posts in the first and second period while leading the defensive effort for the Green Wave.
“We did a different forecheck,” Laurie said. “That stopped them from even getting in our zone to begin with. We protected the house the whole game. Minimized shots the best we could. Coop (Cooper Smith) did a great job. If we do that every game, we are not going to lose.”
Cooper Smith made 22 saves in the shutout for the Green Wave (7-5-1, 6-4-1 Berry). Greenfield travels to Hopedale for an independent match up on Saturday. Puck drop is set for 3 p.m.
Girls basketball
Greenfield 53, PVCA 52 (2 OT)— Tayler Bergeron came through in a clutch situation for the Green Wave in the independent win at Nichols Gymnasium.
With 11 seconds left in the second overtime the Green Wave huddled after a timeout. The first option wasn’t there in Greenfield’s play, and Bergeron found herself with the ball. After a quick step back, Bergeron nailed a 3-pointer to give the Green Wave the buzzer-beating win. Greenfield trailed 23-17 at halftime.
Bergeron finished with 24 points for Greenfield (6-7). Amy Mihailicenco was also in double-figures with 13 points. Natalia Cody and Sofia Ruggeri both added six points. PVCA was ranked No. 10 in Division 5 in the most recent MIAA power rankings.
Mahar 52, Mohawk 23 — With a home win against the Warriors, the Senators officially qualified for the Division 5 state tournament. Hayden Comeau dropped 18 points for the Senators (10-2, 6-1) in the Franklin South victory.
Taylor Paluk added 12 points for Mahar. Zephyr Jetzon had seven points for the Warriors (5-6, 3-4).
Smith Voc 60, Turners Falls 28 —Jojo Hayman and Autumn Thornton both had eight points, but the Thunder lost to the Vikings in Northampton.
Bethany Whitney added five points for Turners Falls (0-11, 0-6 Tri-County North).
Boys basketball
Athol 61, Franklin Tech 23 — Karim Thompson scored 22 points and led the defensive effort in the independent win for the Bears over the Eagles at Mallet Gymnasium.
Oliver Johnson scored 18 points for Athol (6-5). Hunter Donahue led the Eagles (6-6) with six points.
Frontier 78, Palmer 50 — The Redhawks got 37 points from Max Millette in the independent win over the Panthers at Goodnow Gymnasium.
Alex Ellis added 15 points for Frontier (12-1).
PVCICS 55, Mohawk 41 — The Dragons were too much for the Warriors in Buckland. Bradyn Marcoux scored 15 points for Mohawk, with Charlie Georgantas adding 11 points.
Malcolm Briggs and Noah Sprague both added four points for the Warriors (1-12).
Duggan Academy 68, Pioneer 28 — The Panthers lost to the Wolves in Springfield in independent play. Matt Richotte (13 points) and Judah Glenn (12 points) were both in double-figures for the Panthers (0-10).
Alpine Skiing
Addie Loomis won the Giant Slalom at the fifth PVIAC race at Berkshire East Mountain Resort in Charlemont. Loomis (31.54) outlasted Amelia Morse of Amherst, who placed second (33.24) for the Hurricanes.
Brooke Koshinsky (36.22) was 10th overall for the Warriors. Mohawk picked up the team victory in the North League (141.77) Amherst was second (147.40).
In the boys Slalom race, Liam Zarotny placed second overall (44.49) for the Warriors. Teammate Gunner Triggs was third (44.72) while Ben Zarotny placed (44.92) fourth for Mohawk.
Kashton Ryan of Longmeadow was first overall (40.69). The Lancers took home the North League victory with a combined time of 186.79. This time edged Mohawk (187.26) who finished second.
Late Wednesday results
Wrestling
Franklin Tech 48, Holyoke 33 — The Eagles got the better of the Purple Knights in Turners Falls. Paul Giard opened the scoring for Franklin Tech with a win by fall (1:49) at 113 pounds.
The Eagles then grabbed four straight wins starting at Johnathan McIntyre at 126 pounds. Max Brunette won by fall (1:04) at 132 pounds. Landon Purington followed by pinning (2:59) his opponent at 138 pounds. Carsten Couture then won at 144 pounds for the Eagles.
Jared Currier (175 pounds) and Dillon Laffond (285) also won for Franklin Tech.
Longmeadow 57, Frontier 21 — Jocelyn Antes won a 7-0 decision over Faith Jones at 120 pounds, but the Redhawks lost to the Lancers on the road.
Konnor James (157 pounds) and Casey Bestler (190 pounds) also won for Frontier.