Icemen Unbeaten Streak Over! Marlborough Netminder Makes the Difference

by Robert Mingolelli

Goalie Ben Wickelman stopped 47 of 48 shots he faced and No.4 Marlborough (6-2) handed No.1 Groton-Dunstable (7-1-1) a 2-1 loss ending the Crusaders 31 game winning streak.

I guess you could say it was a good weekend for Marlborough hockey with wins over Groton-Dunstable, defending Division 3A state champion, and on Sunday, defeating reigning Division 3 state champ, Hudson, 5-2.

Despite outshooting Marlborough 15-5 over the first 15 minutes, Panthers goalie Wickelman was ready. "I knew they were good and were going to bring it but I needed to come out and be ready to play," said the Marlborough netminder.

At 4:01 of the second stanza, junior defenseman Anthony Resca (assist: Connor McGuire) crushed a shot from the right circle that got past Wickelman for a shorthanded goal and GD lead.

However, Marlboro responded on the power play at the 9:45 mark when Jake Chiasson (assists: Erik Bastarache,Nick Macina) pushed a loose puck past Jason Robes (18 saves).

At 14:01 of the middle period, Marlborough created a 2-on-1 chance and senior Steve Lampedecchio (assist: Andrew LeBlanc, Nick Macina) finished, beating Robes to put Panthers ahead, 2-1.

Groton-Dunstable controlled play in the third period, but could not put one past Wickelman.

"Their goalie came up big," said Groton-Dunstable coach Phil Rowley. "Our inability to finish and stay out of the penalty box killed us."