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BILLERICA — With every North Reading shot, the net seemed to shrink, while Haverhill’s Michael Gleason loomed larger and larger.

By the time the third period rolled around, well, you just weren’t going to beat the 6-foot-3 Hillie goalie.

WOBURN — John Giulotti made a pledge to his North Reading hockey team in between the second and third periods of Saturday's Division 2 North quarterfinal contest with Peabody. "I told them to believe in yourselves and believe in the system," said Giulotti, the team's head coach. "I promised them if we got the first (goal) of the period, then the onslaught would start." The Hornets went out and scored on the first shift of the final stanza ... then added four more for good measure to turn a two-goal deficit into a 5-2 victory over the Tanners at O'Brien Rink. The top line of Tyler Calos, Mike Driscoll and captain Jared Potter combined for three goals and five assists as second-seeded North Reading (18-4) asserted its dominance from the opening whistle of the final 15 minutes. "Hockey's a game of momentum, and we were able to grab it early in that third period," said Giulotti, whose club will face the winner of Saturday night's late game between Haverhill and Winthrop in the Div. 3 North semifinals Wednesday at the Chelmsford Forum. "One we got it, we hung onto it and kept rolling." Driscoll roofed a one-timer past Peabody goalie Aaron McDonnell (23 saves) to get his team on the scoreboard 29 seconds into the third. Just 82 seconds later sophomore defenseman Jared Vadale tied the game at 2-2 with a power play goal from the left point that had eyes through traffic. Calos, a junior, gave North Reading the lead for good with 10:25 remaining when Driscoll sent him in alone and he beat McDonnell with a quick wrister. It was the Hornets' third goal of the period on just four shots. Before Peabody (10-9-3) could pull McDonnell from the nets, Pat Driscoll and Potter added insurance goals 14 seconds apart in the last minute-plus. "We knew they'd come out flying in the third. Their kids get to open spots on the ice so well," said Peabody head coach Mark Leonard, whose team got goals from Bobby Caproni and Chris Gillen in the first two periods. "When they scored so quickly, there was no time for us to slow down their momentum. (Those guys), they play the game right." Junior Nick Ponte stopped 14 of 16 shots for the win in goal for the Hornets.

Nick Day potted two goals and Nick Ponte made 22 saves to lead North Reading boys hockey 3-1 over Oliver-Ames in the Jeff Hayes Memorial Tournament championship game in Bourne. 

Patrick Driscoll tallied a hat trick as North Reading pounded Sandwich 10-3.

Senior captain Jared Potter scored a hat trick, his first of the season, as North Reading rolled over Pentucket 6-1.

Senior defenseman Corey Collins scored his first career goal in the previous game and then scored two more Monday as North Reading clipped Beverly 4-1.