NEW BEDFORD — The Sachems played a close game against Bishop Stang, but ultimately three unanswered goals in the third period saw them lose 5-2 on their 5th game of the season. Despite ending the second period in a 2-2 tie, the Middleboro High School’s boys hockey team ended the Dec. 20 game at the Hetland Memorial Skating Rink in New Bedford with a loss.

Middleboro Head Coach Steven Chamberlain said that moving forward, his team needs to work on its mental toughness and to keep in the game for the full 45 minutes. 

“It just kinda ran away from us there,” Chamberlain said.

Still, Chamberlain remains optimistic about the season to come, which features a chance to get payback when the Sachems play Bishop Stang again on Feb. 19 at the Bridgewater Ice Arena.

“There’s no doubt in my mind that we won’t bounce back,” he said. “We look forward to playing them again later this year.”

The storm on Dec. 18 that left many without power may have also played a factor in Middleboro’s loss. Chamberlain said that the power outage meant his team couldn’t practice in the days leading up to the game. 

“Bishop Stang is always a team on the schedule that we know is always going to come ready to play,” Chamberlain said.

James Joyce, a senior forward for Middleboro, said his team didn’t keep its momentum up. 

“Late second and third period, we had no energy in the tank, so that was a little rough,” Joyce said.

Some of the Middleboro fans had some ideas on how Middleboro can improve its season. Middleboro resident Jake Deane said the Sachems need to be more aggressive on the ice.

“They gotta be more physical, faster, harder on the puck,” Deane said. 

On the other hand, Carver resident Matt Mulready said Middleboro is showing some improvement since its last season.

“It’s a quicker pace, a much more team oriented game,” Mulready said. “All of the chances that were left on the table last year are being capitalized.”