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Pinkerton defeated Spaulding 3-1. Kyle Gundrum, Mike Wanelik and Corey Grant each scored goals and Omar Khartabil chipped in two assists.

The dice came up with a pair of nines for the Timberlane wrestling team at the Division 1 state meet yesterday, and they were big winners.

The Owls, thanks to a shocking 9-for-9 performance in the semifinals earlier in the day, cruised to their ninth straight Division 1 crown in resounding fashion.

Despite sparkling outside shooting from Beau Cassidy, Pinkerton saw a third quarter comeback go for naught as Spaulding held on for a 67-60 victory. Cassidy drilled seven 3-pointers for a game-high 23 points, but Spaulding prevailed.

Going into last Saturday, Spaulding had dominated New Hampshire Division 2 to the tune of a 46-game unbeaten streak. Over the last week, Timberlane has soundly put that streak to rest.

Nick Bundzinski's goal with 5:34 left in regulation gave the Owls a 2-1 win, their second victory over the Red Raiders in six days.

Salem coach Mark McGinn estimates that last year, Josh Frahm and Ryan Desroches combined for 10 shorthanded goals. So far this season, they weren't even a threat for any.

"This year they haven't been getting on the puck," said McGinn.

Pinkerton kept firing shots on goal, but every one of them ended up finding the goalie's pads.

"We generated enough chances to win the game," said Astros coach Casey Kesselring. "We just didn't bear down near the net. We need to do better about scoring goals. We have to go hard and not let up."

The names change, but the script remains the same at the Blue Devil Classic, the traditional season-opening local wrestling tournament.

Once again, Concord, N.H., rolled to the team title yesterday, its sixth straight, while local teams Pinkerton, Central Catholic and Salem showed some superb individual talent and projected promise of better days ahead.

In NHIAA preliminary round play, Pinkerton beat Spaulding 3-1. The Astros, missing four starters due to illness and injury, were led by goals from Peter Drivas, Alex Germaine and Corey Grant. Pinkerton will play a 1:30 home game on Oct. 28 against eighth-seeded Concord.

The Saltalamacchias produced three goals (Elise had two and Sammi Jo had one) in Timberlane's 4-1 victory over Spaulding. Sammi Jo also had two assists while Amy Green added a goal and assist for the Owls (6-2). Timberlane goalie Courtney Lins had seven saves and defender Sam Wheeler was on top of her game.

ROCHESTER, N.H. | The 2007 season already has been a roller-coaster ride for Timberlane.

The Owls, who were punished, 48-8, in their opener last week vs. Division 1 Salem, made their Division 2 debut a pleasant one by hammering Spaulding (0-2, 0-1 Division 2), 42-0.