Broncos headed to D3 hockey semifinals

TYNGSBOROUGH - Phil Sweeney  had a goal and two assists to lead the Alvirne High School boys hockey team to a 5-0 win over Kearsarge in the Division III quarterfinals Saturday at Skate 3.

The No. 2 Broncos (16-3) advance to the semifinals, where they will face the winner of Kennett-Hollis/Brookline, which was scheduled for Saturday night.

Sweeney scored the only goal Alvirne would need just 1:18 into the second period and Cameron Brock added two goals while Ben Dutil had a goal and two assists. Jared McCauley also had a goal for the Broncos, who defeated the Cougars for the third time this season.

Alvirne won both regular-season meetings with Kearsarge by one goal, including a 4-3 win on Feb. 9 in which the Broncos scored two goals in the final five minutes. On Saturday, the teams played a scoreless first period before Alvirne broke the game open early in the second.

McCauley followed Sweeney's goal with an unassisted tally of his won at 2:05 of the period and Brock made it 3-0 at 3:52. Kearsarge battled back, but couldn't find an answer for Alvirne goalie Bobby Savoie, and when the Cougars did, they couldn't get a bounce.

One shot trickled through Savoie, but was cleared out of the crease by Alvirne's Seth Aubin. Another hit off Savoie but then clanged off the post.

Kearsarge opened the third period with a power play, but Alvirne was able to kill it off. The Cougars got another chance when Dutil took a penalty with 9:49 left in the game, but Kearsarge took back-to-back penalties. Alvirne had a 5-on-3 once Dutil left the box and he scored a power play goal at 8:35.

The Cougars were whistled for three more penalties, giving Alvirne two more two-man advantages, and Brock ended the scoring with his second goal at 14:05.

The Broncos will play next on March 9 at 5:30 p.m. at Everett Arena in Concord.