Tilton tops Berwick in tournament-opening game

NORTH ANDOVER, MA –In the opening game of the 2017 Brooks-Pingree tournament, the Bulldogs played solid team defense but did not produce much on the offensive side. A week after making 48 saves against Tilton, senior Rafe Gaughan (Somersworth, NH) kept the Rams at bay again for the entire first period. A poorly timed penalty kill pinch at the blue line by two Berwick forwards resulted in a two-on-one and a 1-0 lead for Tilton when Gerard Marretta slotted one by Gaughan.

 

Ryan Moran scored what would go on to be the game winner just four minutes into the third. The Bulldogs came to life late with the newly formed Sidford-DeGregorio-Aubin line doing some dirty work. Spencer Aubin (Dover, NH) earned the puck on the forecheck then moved it to Jackson Sidford (Newburyport, MA) who found Eric DeGregorio sliding (Dover, NH) into the slot. DeGregorio rifled a one-timer past the Tilton goalie. In the shortened 45-minute game, the Bulldogs put fourteen shots on the Tilton net, while Gaughan faced 28 of his own. In the end, Tilton potted an empty netter and moved one step closer to the finals. Berwick plays two tomorrow with matchups against host Brooks and Millbrook.