HINGHAM – Three unanswered goals in a four-goal second period proved to be the difference as No. 4 Catholic Memorial held on to a 5-4 victory over No. 3 Hingham in a key Division 1 nonleague boys hockey clash between two top five programs in the state.

With the score tied 2-2 midway through the second period, the Knights (11-5-1) picked up consecutive tallies from Lincoln Hennessey, Jack McCourt, and Colin Yandle. This all came within a 4:42 clip in the middle of the period and Knights’ head coach Larry Rooney knew his squad escaped a tough one.

“That second period was the difference in the game for us, I wish we didn’t make it as close as we did in the third, but that’s the game of hockey and Hingham is a very good team,” said Rooney.

After Hingham dominated puck possession, pressure, and energy in the first period, the Knights were happy to get away with a 1-1 tie after the first period of play.

Cam Reed started the tallies for Catholic Memorial with a pretty backhander out in front of the crease as Reed flipped the puck just as he found daylight under the crossbar 41 seconds into the second for the 2-1 Knights lead.

But Hingham tied things up 2-2 on a Brian Murray goal as he rifled a puck front the point using defenders out front as a screen.

But the avalanche of goals gave Catholic Memorial a comfortable 5-2 lead as the prettiest goal of the game came after a scrum behind the net helped Morgan Lenehan to the assist as he found Yandle all alone inside the right slot for the eventual game-winner at 13:46.

But Hingham will be wondering what could have been as the first period was their best effort by far. Robert Dixon put the Harbormen on the board 50 seconds into the game off a perfect cross ice assist out of the right slot from Nick Bigelow.

But the Harbormen were perplexed after the first period to only come away with a 1-1 tie after a 12-6 shot advantage and insult to injury with being 0-for 2 (0-3 overall) on the power play.

With the loss, Hingham (12-4-1) dropped their third in a row and Hingham head coach Tony Messina isn’t finding the silver linings and felt his squad needed this one to get back on track.

“I can’t remember the last time we’ve lost three in a row but … we just talked about (the first period) as we came out so strong, we were all over them and got the early goal and a lot of things going our way,” said Messina. “The first power play was okay when we had possession and got a couple of shots, but the second one we couldn’t even get it in our zone – it was tough and a little deflating.”

Catholic Memorial went into back checking and dumping mode in the third, but the passive play almost came back to haunt the Knights as the Harbormen posted late goals from Luca Guidi and Colin Mulkerrin. Mulkerrin’s tally came with 2:12 left in regulation but Hingham couldn’t clear the red line in the end to pull their goalie in the final seconds of regulation.

“They are a top five team in the state, they could be number one or two wherever they are, but it just gives our kids a whole bunch of confidence that they can play with any team,” said Rooney. “We believe that we can, but we just have to show up to play.”