Sports 02-24-2016

RhS sports Roundup

RHS hockey team must win tonight to reach tourney

The Revere High hockey team earned what arguably was its biggest win of the season with a 2-1 victory over Lowell Saturday evening at Cronin Rink, keeping alive the Patriots’ chances at qualifying for the MIAA post-season state tournament and a shot at earning a spot in the schoolboy version of the Frozen Four at Boston Garden.

After spotting Lowell an early 1-0 advantage, the Patriots struck back quickly, scoring twice before the first period ended to take a 2-1 lead. Mike Goroshko (assisted by Steve Noel and Joe Ristino) and Anthony Cecca (assisted by Rob Stoica and Rick Brian) lit the red lamp for Revere.

From that point onwards, the teams engaged in a hard-fought, defensive struggle, battling fiercely for every possession and every loose puck.

“It was a great game,” said RHS head coach Joe Ciccarello of the playoff-style hockey and atmosphere in which the teams competed. “After we took the lead, it was (RHS goaltender) Maxx Anderson and our defense that carried us the rest of the way.

“We played hard, but not smart, as we took too many penalties,” added Ciccarello. “We need to play even harder, but more important, WAY smarter against Everett in our final game of the season.”

The Lowell triumph improved the Patriots to 9-10 on the season and brings them within a victory of qualifying for the state tourney, thus setting up a do-or-die contest in the season finale this evening (Wednesday) when Revere hosts their former long-time Greater Boston League rival, Everett. Face-off is set for 6:30.

The Patriots dropped a tight, 4-3 encounter with the Crimson Tide in their first meeting two weeks ago. Everett took a 4-1 lead after two periods, but the Revere came back to score twice in the final frame. The rematch shapes up as another hard-fought battle, with a ticket for a Journey to the Tourney on the line for the Patriots and a winning record at stake for the Crimson Tide, who are 10-9 on the season.

In contests in the last two weeks with a common opponent, Northeast Regional, Revere defeated Northeast, 3-1, while Everett lost, 6-4.

In addition, the evening will be highlighted by Senior Night festivities at which the four Patriots who are members of the RHS class of 2016, Anderson, Ristino, Noel, and Kevin Chiles, will be honored for their outstanding contributions to the Revere High hockey program.

“There was a great crowd Saturday night and hopefully there will be even more fans tonight,” said Ciccarello. “It is Senior Night and the importance of the game should draw a big crowd.”

RHS sports Through the Years

10 years ago

February 22, 2006

Revere star hurdler Peniel Muteba turned in an outstanding performance in the 55 meter hurdle competition at the Division 1 State Meet with a time of 8.69 seconds (the winning time was 8.51) to take second place at the meet. Muteba handily had captured the Northeastern Conference crown the week before.

RHS sophomore Deth Chan won a fourth place medal in the parallel bars at Saturday’s State Gymnastics Meet. Chan fell just short of earning three more medals in the pommel horse, floor exercise, and all-around, finishing in seventh position in all three.

Coach Jim Palumbo’s RHS hockey squad handily clinched a berth in the state tourney with wins of 7-2 over Saugus and 6-1 over Beverly. Matt Leslie (2), Anthony Morico (2), Pat Weber (2), who is the second leading scorer in the NEC, and Gerard Salvati scored the goals against Saugus. Weber scored four goals in the Beverly victory, with Anthony DelloIacono and Rick Mastropietro also scoring for Revere.

The RHS girls basketball team, which had endured a 79-game winless streak entering this season, finished off the 2006 campaign with a 65-60 triumph over Medford in overtime. Senior captain Christina Polsonetti led Revere with 18 points. Fellow captain Alex DeMattia added 12 points. The Lady Patriots recorded four victories this season.

20 years ago

February 21, 1996

Despite a full house at Cronin Rink, including the “Pats Pound” cheering section, whose members were decked out in blue body paint, the RHS hockey team was unable to end Arlington’s 40-game winning streak and dropped a 2-0 decision. RHS goalie Mark Lavery was sensational, turning in the best game of his career, but his Patriot teammates were unable to mount a substantial offensive threat against the powerful Arlington defense. However, after a 14-1 win over Malden, coach Jim Palumbo’s team set a new record of 16 wins in one season for the RHS hockey program.

Despite losses of 62-52 to Medford and 50-44 to Peabody, the RHS girls basketball team ended the season with a 9-7 record in the GBL. The Lady Patriots are 11-7 overall and are headed to the state tourney.

Nick Piscitelli ended the season undefeated in the GBL and claimed the GBL title with a victory in the hurdles at the All-GBL Meet Wednesday. Sam Ros took fourth place for the Patriots in the mile with a personal record time of 4:52.2.

30 years ago

February 19, 1986

The RHS boys gymnastics team capped off another fine year with a  third place finish in the state gymnastics meet. The team was led this season by junior sensation Phi Che, Paul DeBenedictis, and John Spinelli.

John Bruzzese captured a first place for the RHS boys track team at the GBL Meet with a victory in the 1000 in 2:29.0. The RHS boys placed second in the meet. At the State Meet held at Harvard, Rich Casoli finished sixth in the dash in 5.81. The relay team of Casoli, Bruzzese, Jeff Pitzi, and Joe Galvin set a new RHS record of 3:36.7 in the 4 x 400 to take fourth place at the meet.

After a 59-42 loss to Peabody and a 61-28 win over Chelsea, the 10-8 RHS girls basketball team needs to win both of its final games to achieve the requisite 60 percent winning record to qualify for the state tourney. Freshman center Patrice Misiano led Revere with 15 points in the Peabody contest.

Despite a 38-point effort by Sal Bottari, the RHS boys basketball team dropped a 67-60 decision to Peabody.

The RHS hockey team’s winless skein reached 42 games this week with a pair of shutout losses. The last victory for a Revere hockey squad came with a 6-3 triumph over Somerville on February 1, 1984.

40 years ago

February 18, 1976

The RHS basketball team finally won a game with a 57-52 victory over Haverhill to avoid a winless season. Tim Countie scored 16 points, Mike Graf added 14, Kinton Talbot hit for 12, and Bill Sheehan added 11 for coach Dave Curran’s squad, which now is 1-17 on the season.

50 years ago

February 24, 1966

The 12-1-1 RHS hockey team, the champion of the Metropolitan Hockey League, has compiled an amazing 51-12-5 mark over the past five seasons. Eight of those 12 losses were by just one goal. The Revere squad now is awaiting state tourney play.

60 years ago

February 23, 1956

Two clutch victories this week over St. Pat’s of Watertown gave the Immaculate Conception High basketball team a share of the Catholic Suburban League title. John McSweeney scored 24 points and Steve White hit for 23 in the first win over St. Pat’s and John Kelleher scored 24 and Jim Cowan scored 22 in the second victory. The IC squad now will play in the New England Catholic Tourney this weekend and the Class C Division of the Tech Tourney next week.

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