The Nantucket High School boys hockey team won its first-ever varsity game against Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School on Sunday afternoon at the Martha’s Vineyard Ice Arena by a 5-3 score in a bruising island-rivalry matchup.
The Vineyarders led 1-0 after one period on a pretty score by freshman Colby Zarba, assisted by sophomore Hunter Ponte.
Nantucket roared back in the second period, scoring three times; once on the power play, once shorthanded, and once at even strength to take a 3-1 lead. Senior forward Nainoa Cooperrider got one back for MV after taking a centering pass from senior captain Tristan Araujo from behind the Whaler net and firing it home to cut the margin to 3-2 going into the final period.
The Vineyarders wasted little time tying the game in the third, with Mr. Ponte scoring at the 47-second mark on a setup from sophomore Colin Henke and Mr. Zarba. But the Whalers struck less than a minute later to take a 4-3 lead, and added an insurance tally with 6:27 left to seal the win, despite persistent pressure from the Vineyarders.
Busy junior netminder Zachary Fullin had 20 saves in the Vineyarder net.
The win puts undefeated Nantucket at 9-0-3 for the season, and qualified the jubilant Whalers for the state tourney. The Vineyarders slid to 2-6-3 on the season, and play next on Saturday, Jan. 28, at 2 pm at the Raynham Iceplex.