With two minutes remaining in the second period of their season and home opener, Belmont High School Boys' Ice Hockey team were holding a 1-0 lead over neighbor Watertown High on Saturday afternoon, Dec. 14.
What made the score noteworthy was that in the past year, the Marauders were likely well behind by that point in a game against a Middlesex League rival.
But a first period power-play goal by junior center and captain Joseph Paolillo and a bend-but-not-break defense led by freshman goaltender Cal Christofori kept Belmont in the lead over two periods, an accomplishment that many fans were hoping to see suffering through a no-win season last year.
But the good did come with the bad as a retaliation penalty – the two referees did not see the foul that caused the Belmont player to react – gave Watertown the opening to score just before the period ended.
Then two goals off rebounds off initial saves by Christofori and a late tally resulted in a 4-1 loss to the visiting Raiders.
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