Mike Moscaritolo | McClelland Miscellanea

North Reading presses for tying goal late in the third period.

Cooper Hines (17) congratulated by Travis Wile (5) and Cam Roy (4) after scoring 4th Clipper goal.

(Newburyport) Newburyport (2-3-1) scored a couple of goals early in the third period (Cooper Hines & Matt Kelleher) and then hung on for dear life before defeating North Reading, 5-4, at Graf Rink on Wednesday night.

The Clippers, 2-2 in Cape Ann League games, had plenty of shots (38) but they neutralized that advantage by surrendering power play goals to the Hornets.

One of the more remarkable things I’ve ever seen at a sporting event happened even before this game started. NHS coach Paul Yameen’s young daughter was delivering a wonderful rendition of the National Anthem when the Graf Rink microphone kicked off. What next? The crowd picked up right where she left off and delivered a rousing conclusion to the song. Spontaneity at it’s best!

North Reading (2-5 overall/0-4 in CAL) rode a hot goaltender (Keith Linnane – 38 saves) and power play advantages and were tied, 3-3, after two periods.

National Anthem soloist

But in the final period, the relentless Clippers were rewarded twice (Cooper Hines & Matt Kelleher) early to get what, at the time, looked like sufficient separation from the Hornets. It didn’t work that way. Defenseman Connor Wile ended up in the penalty box and Mike Moscaritolo beat Clipper goalie Dan Murphy to make things a very interesting, 5-4, late in the game.

NR pulled their goalie and the action thereafter was in the Newburyport end. A number of “ooh’s” and “ah’s” indicated how close the Hornets came to tying this one with the extra forward in the mix. But Newburyport prevailed.

They face North Andover (5-1) on Saturday at 7PM at the Graf Rink. The Knights lost to Triton, 3-1, last night.

Newburyport goal scorers were: Travis Wile, Jared Bradbury (2), Copper Hines, and Matt Kelleher. Cam Roy had three assists.

North Reading goal scorers were: Mike Brandano, Timmy Potter (2), and Mike Moscaritolo.

NR is at Pentucket on Saturday (7PM).

(All pictures enlarge to normal size if you click on them.)