The midway point of anything is a good place for reflection. Where are we in our goals? What can we do better? What has gone well?
For the Saugus High School boys hockey team, the middle of the season has served as a great point for review.
The team needed to go back to the drawing board, because it lost three of four games after starting the season 5-0-2. Saugus lost to Danvers, Swampscott and Marblehead, and was looking for a pick-me-up.
It got it done in a 6-1 victory over Beverly Jan. 28 at the Kasabuski Arena.
Captains Mike Sarnacchiaro and Brendan Ronan (two), Ian Worthley, Ryan Groark and Nick Moore each had goals. Nick Sanderson picked up the win in net. Brenden Patterson, Adam Rodrigues, Dante McGrane, Joe Cross and Groark collected the assists.
"It was a really good game for us," Saugus coach Jeff Natalucci said. "We played well on the forecheck, and really played well all game. We played some real good hockey."
As for that self-inspection stuff, Saugus did that. The Sachems took a peek at the first seven games compared to the next four (1-3 record).
"The kids were just suffering from a lack of attention to detail, especially in the Marblehead game (2-1 loss Jan. 25 at Salem State)," Natalucci said. "The effort was there, but the execution in the defensive zone just hadn't been that good. We were late on the backcheck, and were letting a lot of loose picks sit out front after the initial save. If your goalie makes the initial save, you have to have your forwards coming back, and defensemen in there trying to get it out of there."
So lessons were learned, apparently. The Sachems left the game never in doubt against Beverly.
It continues to get scoring from all three lines: Ronan, Rodrigues and McGrane on the first line, John Torres, Groark and Patterson on the second line and Worthley, Moore and Ryan Granara on the third line.
"The good thing is that we're back to where we were in scoring with all three lines contributing," Natalucci said. "We hope that continues the rest of the season.
Ronan leads the team with 15 goals and seven assists. Patterson (8-5-13), Sarnacchio (3-9-12), Groark (6-6-12) and McGrane (6-5-11) follow close behind.
"Ronan has had a lot of game-tying goals, and game-winning goals," Natalucci said. "He's definitely leading the charge. He just has tremendous speed, and has definitely done a good job using his linemates this year. As far as I'm concerned, he's one of the best skaters in the league. He's using his speed to get to the net."
Sanderson picked up the win against Beverly in net. Natalucci said that Sanderson has been solid for the team. His defenders helped him keep the puck out of their own end as much as possible against Beverly.
"The guys really answered the call," Natalucci said. "We're getting healthier, too. It's been brutal the last two weeks with illnesses. It seems like we're missing at least one guy, whether it's a game or practice."
Natalucci also praised the play of Worthley, a freshman third-line center who is peaking at the right time. He also plays on the top penalty-kill unit
"We're starting to see the confidence with him," Natalucci said.
Saugus has some big games in the Northeastern Conference North Division coming up. They had a scheduled matchup against Peabody Feb. 1 after press deadline, and travel to Larsen Rink in Winthrop Feb. 4 to take on the Vikings, starting at 3:30 p.m.
"We have to bring it every night in this league," Natalucci said. "It's been really competitive."
Heading into this week, Saugus was 2-2-1 in the NEC North, 7-3-2 overall. They were in fourth place, but only a point out of third and four from the top, where Danvers resides at 4-1-1. Winthrop was 4-0-1, and Marblehead was in third at 2-1-2.
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