---

- Scoring four, first-period goals was not enough for the King Philip High Warriors.

Scoring four, second-period goals was not enough for the Mansfield High Hornets.

Because when the whistle sounded after three periods of play at the Veterans Arena Wednesday, neither the Warriors, nor the Hornets were feeling very good about themselves.

The scoreboard read: King Philip 6, Mansfield 5.

But, the Warriors surrendered eight (count 'em) power-play chances to the Hornets, four during the third period of play and squandered a four-goal lead. The Hornets surrendered three goals within the first five minutes of the Hockomock League game, had a potential momentum-swinging goal waved off by a high-stick infraction and could not cash in on a pair of powerplay chances in the final four minutes of play.

"I'm not happy, I'm not satisfied," sighed Mansfield High mentor Mike McGrath, whose Hornets (10-3-1, 6-3 Hockomock) tied the game at 5-5 on a powerplay goal off the stick of junior Shane Harrington just 2:50 into the third period.

"We lacked a lot of discipline, we were forcing plays that weren't there," mentioned KP coach Piotti, whose Warriors (9-3-2, 6-1-2) produced the game-winning goal - on a short-handed situation no less - by sophomore Peter MacIntyre at 4:11 of the final session.

King Philip senior captain and defenseman Chris Pellichero figured in three of the Warriors' four first period goals - scoring the go-ahead goal on a drive from just inside the blue line at 2:44 and then set up tallies by Joe Kelly (with a drive from the blue line at 4:22) and D.J. Goldberg (a deflection of his drive from the left point at 8:35).

The Hornets tallied twice within the final six minutes of the second period, senior captain Jon DiFlamines tucking a backhander on a powerplay past KP starting goalie Andrew Sutton at 9:19, then senior center Will Gasson netted his second goal of the game at 12:43, a rebound off the pads of the Warrior netminder.

That one-goal lead heading into the third period did not last long for KP as Harrington converted the Hornets' fifth powerplay chance, whipping a 25-foot wrist shot from the right face off circle past Warrior reserve goalie Andrew Marks.

But, 81 seconds later, MacIntyre secured two points for KP and a sweep of the season series with the Hornets by collecting a loose puck through center ice, then bursting down the right wing to beat Mansfield senior goalie Ryan Kershaw.

"To score six goals against a goalie as good as Kershaw is remarkable in itself," added Piotti. "We stopped doing the things that we did in the first period. Mansfield is a proud hockey team, we took too many stupid penalties.'

The Hornets had a seventh powerplay chance with 4:39 left, but KP defenseman Brad Goosens and Pellichero were sound in allowing Mansfield just one shot. Then with Kershaw out of the Hornet net in favor of a sixth skater, the Warriors went to the "sin bin" again with 19.3 seconds left. Again, Mansfield could not come up with a potential tying shot.

The Hornets ignited their comeback trail within the first three minutes of the second period when Donny Washburn deflected a Taylor Mattus drive at 1:13, then Gasson scored an unassisted goal on a faceoff to the right of Sutton at 2:28. Two minutes later, the Hornets had a potential third goal waved off by a high-stick deflection call. The Hornets could have gone meekly into the night after Matt Riddoch then put KP ahead by three goals at 6:14, taking a loose puck play and drop pass from John Cuozzo.

"We're both fighting for the league (title)," added McGrath. "I know that we're a good team, but we came up short against another good team."

KP returns to action Saturday night at 6 at Canton, while Mansfield has a faceoff at that same hour against the Foxboro Warriors.

King Philip 6, Mansfield 5

First period: KP-Chris Pellichero (Mike Miller), 2:44; KP-Scott Haley (Peter MacIntyre, John Cuozzo), 3:04; KP-Joe Kelly (Pellichero, D.J. Goldberg), 4:22; KP-Goldberg (Pellichero, Kelly), 8:35.

Second period: Msf.-Don Washburn (Taylor Mattus, Will Gasson), 1:13; Msf.-Gasson (unasst.), 2:28; KP-Matt Riddoch (Cuozzo, Pellichero), 6:14; Msf.-Jon DiFlamines (unasst.), 9:19; Msf.-Gasson (Greg O'Brien, Washburn).

Third period: Msf.-Shane Harrington (Joe Collins), 2:50; KP-MacIntyre (Mike O'Brien), 4:11.

Shots on goal: Msf. 6-13-9-29; KP 15-12-5-32; Goalies: Msf.: Ryan Kershaw; KP: Andrew Sutton, Andrew Marks (12:43, 2nd period).