Boys have late game surge against Cohasset
BY STEVE SHEPPARD INDEPENDENT WRITER
Nantucket scored three goals and held defending Division 3 champion Cohasset scoreless in the final period at home Sunday afternoon. Unfortunately, the damage had already been done by that point, as Cohasset surged to an early lead in the contest and never relinquished it.

MICHAEL GALVIN/The Independent Goalie Keith Clemens (left) and defenseman John O'Mara (18) had their work cut out for them against Cohasset.

The visitors came out of the gate firing, scoring five unanswered goals before Henry Farrell netted the Whalers' first score on an unassisted goal.

Farrell and Hakeem Lecky each scored two goals in the contest, with Josh Holdgate, Mark Dwyer, and Will Martin also contributing single scores in a 12-7 loss.

"You're not going to outscore those guys by five goals," coach Rick Blair said of Cohasset's early lead. "This is the same team that beat nationally ranked Duxbury. Cohasset's at the top of the cycle in terms of experience, while we're sort of in a young phase."

Coupled with last Wednesday's 12- 2 loss at Weston, the Whalers are now 4-6 on the season, and tied with Bourne and Dartmouth for second place in the Maritime Conference.

Cohasset added to its 9-2 halftime lead early in the third period with two quick scores before Dwyer, who assisted on Holdgate's first period goal, made a nice move on the swarming Cohasset defense and would not be denied as he attacked the net. Minutes later, Farrell added his second goal of the game.

Lecky scored both his goals within two minutes of each other in the last stanza and Martin finished the day's scoring with 1:39 remaining in the contest.

Nantucket's perseverance impressed Blair, who said his team continues to improve. "I thought we were a little more effective on ground balls," he said. "Farrell did a great job on faceoffs - I think we won most of the draws. Jordan Beans had a good game, and (goaltender) Keith Clemens did a real good job directing traffic out there.

"There's a reason Cohasset only has two losses on the year."

The Whalers traveled to Martha's Vineyard yesterday afternoon for a rematch with the rival island. Nantucket won the first outing at home in double overtime. "I think we've got the team to beat them," Blair noted.

Nantucket faces another test tomorrow afternoon when Barnstable comes to the island. "I think our offense is showing signs of life," Blair said.

"We'll see." I