Sports
By Don Lyons - December 14, 2006
Christina Wiley stole the puck at the blue line and beat the Hingham goalie one on one early in the third period. She completed the hat trick later. Photos by Ralph Stewart
Hingham tied at Arena
A hat trick by Christina Wiley and three dozen saves by goalie Jen Ward earned the Vineyard a 3-3 tie with Hingham at the MV Arena, Saturday.
The visiting ladies of the Harbor posted the first score just 1:13 into the game. Five minutes later, Christina Wiley scored on a rebound, tying the score.
In the second period Hingham continued to dominate, out-shooting the Vineyard 14-4, and the visitors scored the only goal late in the period to go up, 2-1. After goalie Ward made a save that left her face-down on the ice, Hingham took advantage trickling the puck into the net behind her
The Islanders hit the ice steaming for the third period. Two and a half minutes into the frame, with Hingham on a power play, Christina stole the puck at the MV blue line and skated in alone, beating the goalie and evening the count at two.
Four minutes later, Wiley, assisted by the Fisher twins, Zoe and Alexa, put the Vineyard up, 3-2. But not for long! It took Hingham just nine seconds to post their third goal, and that made it 3-3.
Jen Ward kept the Vineyard in contention stopping 36 shots on goal.
The final minutes were action-packed with both teams picking up the pace and jumping on every loose puck. Both teams had power play opportunities, but the game ended with the scoreboard reading 3-3.
According to the Globe, Hingham is ranked 18th in the state. The Vineyard is unranked.
It was announced that the game - the Vineyarders' whole season in fact - was dedicated to the memory of Nan Rheault. It was exactly the kind of competitive contest Nan would have loved.
The SEMGIHL
The Vineyarders are now members of the Southeastern Massachusetts Girls Ice Hockey League. The League is divided into two divisions. M.V. is in the southern division with Falmouth, Sandwich, Duxbury, Barnstable, and Nauset. They will play those teams twice, home and home.
The Islanders will also play teams in the northern division once: Hingham, Westwood, Canton, Franklin, Quincy, and Latin Academy.
Boys ready to go
The boys varsity hockey team played its fourth and final scrimmage game, Saturday , against a strong, visiting Needham team.
They were scheduled to play their first game of the season versus Bridgewater-Raynham at the Bridgewater Arena yesterday, and their first home game on Saturday, at 5 pm, versus Franklin.
The Islanders are in the South Coast Conference with Bourne, Old Rochester, Wareham, and Greater New Bedford Vocational. They play each of them twice, home and home. The first SCC game is Saturday, Dec. 23, at home vs. Bourne.
Jayvees
The MVRHS boys junior varsity squad began its season at the Arena, Friday, losing to Franklin, 9-1.
Chris Joyce tries to prevent Nick Viera from taking a handoff.
Alumni game
There was a good-natured boys varsity boys versus alumni basketball game, Tuesday.
Chris Joyce rounded up enough grads to put two teams on the floor with players as recently graduated as Matt Rivers and Tim Scott to grey heads like Eric Adams and Sam Berlow.
The Alums ran out to a 37-21 lead in the first half, at one point leading by as much as 21 points.
But the second half belonged to the varsity. The varsity looked sharper and the grads, some of them, were visibly winded. The varsity came within five (40-45) at the seven minute mark. Then, hoops by Heath Estrella, Caleb Nicholson, and Eric Adams restored an alumni 10-point advantage. Finally Nick Viera took charge for the varsity. In the closing minutes he dropped two treys, two layups and two foul shots, giving the young men a 58-55 win over their elders.
