Wilmington Storms Back in Third Period to Topple Tewksbury

Wilmington scored four goals in the third period to rip momentum from the Tewksbury boys hockey team's hands, sending the Redmen to another rivalry defeat on Friday night.

Though Tewksbury led by two goals in the final frame, the Wildcats showed why they won the last two Division 2 championships as they remained calm and struck back for a 5-3 road win.

Ryan Meade struck just two minutes into the game to give the locals an early advantage, but Wilmington came back for the first time when Luke Foley scored to knot things up at 1-1 in the middle period.

Jack Cash scored from Ryan Petti and Ross Budryk with 1:58 to go before the second intermission, and the Redmen extended that lead just nine seconds into the third period. 

That's when Petti took the opening face off down the ice and gave his team a 3-1 lead with a goal of his own.

But Wilmington scored once just under two minutes later, another time with 6:31 to go, and the Wildcats took the lead for good with 4:20 to play. Foley scored his third of the game on an empty netter with 50 seconds left, and the Redmen closed out the year with a defeat.

Tewksbury hopes for a quick bounce back. The Redmen open the playoffs this week as the No. 3 seed in North Division 2 play. Wilmington will be in the Division 1 tournament, which begins Wednesday.