---

FOXBORO - It's on to the MIAA Tournament - for a fourth successive season - for the King Philip Regional High hockey team.

The Warriors notched victory No. 10 of the season, overcoming an early deficit and an upset-minded Mansfield High Hornet sextet Saturday at the Foxboro Skating Center, 3-2, in the Hockomock League game.

Junior forward D.J. Goldberg's fourth goal of the season, just four minutes into the third period, proved to be the game-winning goal for KP (10-1-1, 5-1), that tally boosting the Warrior lead to 3-1.

However, KP survived some tense final seconds when Mansfield senior left wing Billy Rogazzo jammed in a rebound at 12:48 of the third period to make it a one-goal game, then the Hornets lifted their goalie in favor of a sixth attacker for the final minute - and Hornet senior Ed O'Brien created a partial breakaway that Warrior goalie Dan Bukoff deflected aside.

"That was probably our best three-period performance," said KP coach Bob Piotti as the Warriors surrendered the go-ahead goal to Mansfield, to O'Brien, on a powerplay no less, at 9:39 of the first period. Then for the next 33:09, KP created an all-out assault on Mansfield junior goalie Ryan Kershaw. KP outshot Mansfield (6-4-1) 16-2 during the second period and had three powerplay chances too, but still managed to only take a 2-1 lead into the third period on the strength of freshman Andrew Candler's sixth goal of the season.

"Mike's (McGrath, the Mansfield coach) team is a good team," said Piotti. "They stuck to their game plan and gave themselves an opportunity to win. They'll make some noise because they play everybody tough."

The Hornets nearly tied the game at 2-2 early in the third period too as Brendan Carroll had a partial breakaway in the first minute and O'Brien missed on a point-blank deflection seconds later. Then Bukoff made a great save on Hornet freshman Don Washburn, a point-blank shot from the left corner just seconds after KP had taken a two-goal lead.

Goldberg just happened to get his stick on a puck that came in from the left side of the blue line, sophomore defenseman Chris Pellichero flipping the puck into a maze of players.

In truth, it was Pellichero who got KP moving. He scored a short-handed goal with seven seconds left in the first period, tying the score at 1-1. KP sophomore defenseman Mark Higgins - who set up the Warriors' first two goals - gave Pellichero a nice break-out pass and the latter wheeled down the right wing, catching the Hornets too far up ice.

KP had just a 7-6 edge in shots during the first period, not filling the lanes and not being as aggressive as Piotti would have liked on the forecheck. But, to Mansfield's credit, Hornet defensemen Taylor Mattus and Greg O'Brien did a terrific job of clearing the puck, while O'Brien never stopped skating.

KP tallied its second specialty teams goal to gain the lead, a powerplay goal by Candler at 10:03 of the second period, the Warrior rookie wing jamming in a rebound of a Higgins drive from the left side.

Thereafter, John Couzzo and Matt Riddoch both created great chances to make it a two-goal lead for KP in the waning minutes of the period and the former had three terrific chances too in the third period - but Kershaw responded to the challenge.

"We got to pucks," said Piotti of his Warriors making a conscientious effort to take control. "We're not a big scoring team, we get the goals that we can."

And one of them, a postseason berth, has been achieved. KP returns to the ice Wednesday evening at home against Canton, while Mansfield returns to the ice tonight (8:30) at Franklin.