Roberto's third-period goal gives Bedford boys hockey win over Londonderry (video)

GOFFSTOWN - Before the start of the third period Saturday, the Bedford High School boys hockey team talked about finding a way to win.

To junior Owen Roberto, that meant continuing to throw shots on goal, and eventually, one would find its mark.

That's what the Bulldogs did to start the final period, and after goalie Jake Holdsworth stopped the first handful of shots, Roberto broke through, putting one into the back of the net. Bedford made the goal stand up over the rest of the period for a 3-2 win over the Lancers in a Division I game at St. Anselm College's Sullivan Arena.

It was the third goal of the game for Roberto's line, as Quinlan Kerr and Brett Niland each had a goal in the first period and each had an assist on the game-winner, as Bedford (2-1) bounced back from a one-goal loss to Salem on Wednesday.

"As disappointing as that was, we didn’t find a way to win," Bedford coach Marty Myers said. "That was the talk in between the second and third period. It’s a tie game and somebody has to win. Who is going to find it? To their credit, although it wasn’t the prettiest of games, they found a way to win against a good team."

John Giroux also had an assist for the Bulldogs and Shea Guimont made seven saves, as Bedford was able to keep Londonderry (1-1) pinned in its own end for long stretches of the second and third period. The Lancers kept it close thanks in large part to Holdsworth, who made 28 saves.

"I’m certainly pleased with the effort," Londonderry coach Peter Bedford said. "I think we are a project. We have things we want to work at and clean up and become better at. There were times where they hemmed us in really well, but I also think at times we did a pretty good job and were pretty effective on them. Our goaltending stood up well."

The Bulldogs looked like they were in command early, as Kerr and Niland gave Bedford a 2-0 lead that it looked like it would take into the first intermission. But a goal by Londonderry's Nicholas Pitarys with 42.9 seconds left in the first made it 2-1 after one.

"Coming into the end of the first period 2-1, it took away a little of our momentum," Myers said. "I was hoping we could get one more before the end of the period, and that was a little deflating. That carried into a little bit of our second period."

Holdsworth and the Londonderry defense were able to keep it a one-goal game despite plenty of opportunities for the Bulldogs, and when the Lancers got a chance, they capitalized. Niland was called for a slash with 3:07 left in the second, and eight seconds into the power play, Zachary Rheault buried a one-timer from Austin Cardosi to tie the game at 2.

The Bulldogs came right back after the goal and threw a couple of shots at Holdsworth, but the sophomore was up to the task and got some help from the post to keep it tied going into the third.

Bedford came out doing more of the same to start the final period, and it finally paid off.

"We noticed we had to get some shots," Roberto said. "We went out there thinking just pepper the goalie. First shift, we went out there and had four or five shots, and one went in. We had what, 23 shots, going into the third. One was bound to go in. It was definitely a good feeling."

It looked like Kerr had given the Bulldogs a two-goal lead, but a goal was waved off after Bedford was ruled to have hit the puck with a high stick.

Londonderry pulled Holdsworth late in the game, and was finally able to get into the offensive zone, but the Lancers were unable to get the equalizer this time.

"We’re going to get there, but we’re not there yet," Bedford said. "I like the young talent that we do have. I like the goaltending. We’re pretty solid from the goal on out. We’re only going to get better. I’m not disappointed with the team or the effort, just the result."