DANVERS – The hard-earned Northeastern Conference title already belonged to the Danvers field hockey team, but a 1-0 win over next-best Gloucester on Tuesday completed some much-desired, unfinished business.

Maddie Chase’s goal on a corner with 13:47 to play marked the only offense, putting the Falcons (13-2-2) ahead despite getting their first shot-on-goal of the game about 30 seconds before.

It was a pleasant reward for a tenacious defensive effort, which staved off a loaded Fishermen (12-3-2) attack that controlled play for most of the first three quarters. Gloucester didn’t let up, but goalie Megan McGinnity (six saves) and the Danvers defense in front of her were equally resilient.

Considering the tie in the first matchup, and that the Fishermen rank higher in the Div. 3 power rankings, it was a meaningful win.

“Gloucester is such a huge competitor in the NEC, and it just is always great to have a win against them,” Chase said. “It feels a little different to go undefeated in the NEC, it really kind of put the stamp on it for us. … I think it brings really great momentum for us.”

“To get that win feels good,” added head coach Kristen McCarthy. “Knowing where they stand (in the rankings) and knowing the other teams right around them aren’t that much different.”

Lily Pregent, Abby Lowthers and Anna Cinelli proved how dangerous of a front line they are for Gloucester throughout, consistently putting the pressure on Danvers. Neither group could get a shot-on-goal in the first quarter despite each drawing a corner, though, and only combined for nine overall in a smothering performance from both defenses.

Gloucester found a way to get a little more through, but McGinnity was stellar. Pregent had a tremendous reverse-chip McGinnity had to slide on to keep out in the second quarter. Saves on a two-shot flurry with under three minutes left to preserve the lead was even more impressive.

All six saves were on grade-A chances from Gloucester, but Danvers prevented a lot more from getting on McGinnity in an effort the whole team seemed to play with more urgency in through the fourth quarter.

“(Molly Emery) shut everyone down back there,” McCarthy said. “We moved (Mia Lewis) to right and (Caroline Horn) to left, which was our first game (with it) tonight. Mia played really well on the right, and Caroline stepped up big on the left. And (Malana Moy) and Molly were both kind of both playing like sweeps. … I think that was huge to kind of stay even-keeled and just stay with it, and to know the time will come.”

That time came in the fourth.

Its first shot of the game drew a corner on the save with 14:13 left in the game, which turned into the only goal. Chase received the insert at the top of the circle, brought it inside, then shot a dribbler through traffic to squeeze it inside the right post.

“That (corner) wasn’t even supposed to go to me … but usually our corners that go wrong end working out the best, sometimes,” Chase said. “I left the ball behind me and dragged it. … I knew I couldn’t go left, so I went right.”

Maplewood-based 3M Co. boosted its full-year adjusted profit and cash flow targets as it reported third-quarter results that easily topped Wall Street estimates, lifted by sweeping cost cuts and efforts to combat an ongoing sales slump.

Adjusted earnings in 2023 will be $8.95 to $9.15 per share, 3M said in a statement Tuesday. That compares with its earlier forecast of $8.60 to $9.10, and an average of $8.88 based on analyst estimates compiled by Bloomberg.

The company, which makes ubiquitous consumer products such as Scotch tape and Post-it Notes, as well as myriad industrial products, also expects its adjusted operating cash flow will be from $6.5 billion to $6.9 billion, up from a range of $5.9 billion to $6.3 billion.

“We are building momentum through strong operational execution,” 3M Chief Executive Officer Mike Roman said in a statement. The results “position us for a solid close to 2023.”

3M shares rose 4.5% to $90.12 in trading Tuesday.

The higher targets reflect deep cost cuts, thousands of layoffs and other actions taken by Roman to streamline the complex company amid a lengthy sales slump.

3M reported a third-quarter adjusted profit of $2.68 per share, blowing past the $2.34 estimated by Wall Street. The company attributed its improved bottom line to operational improvements at its factories, restructuring actions gaining traction and spending controls.

Sales of $8.02 billion were at the high end of 3M’s third-quarter forecast and slightly above the average analysts estimate. Full-year sales will be down about 3% on an organic basis, a change from 3M’s previous forecast of a 3% decline to no better than flat, the company said.

Shares of the manufacturing giant had declined 29% this year through Monday’s close on meager sales growth, uneven earnings and billions of dollars in legal settlements to resolve environmental and product liability claims.

The company took a major step toward resolving its legal entanglements in August when it by agreed to pay $6 billion to resolve hundreds of thousands of lawsuits alleging it supplied defective earplugs to US combat troops.

The company took a $4.2 billion pretax charge in the third quarter because of the agreement, which was adjusted out of its reported results.

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Two St. Paulites were among four Minnesota men charged last week with running a multimillion-dollar catalytic converter theft ring.

Justin Tyme Johnson, 32, of St. Paul; Soe Nye Moo, 31, of St. Paul; John Charles Kotten, 41, of Hutchinson; and James Dillon Jensen, 34, of Minneapolis, were indicted on one count of conspiracy to transport stolen property across state lines, according to charging documents filed in U.S. District Court.

Johnson and Kotten were also charged with eight counts of interstate transportation of stolen property, one count of money laundering and 10 counts of using the proceeds of unlawful activity in monetary transactions.

Moo was also charged with possessing a machine gun.

All four defendants made their initial appearances Tuesday in U.S. District Court in St. Paul.

Johnson and Kotten, who were the ringleaders of the scheme, acquired catalytic converters directly from thieves or through intermediaries, including Moo and Jensen, according to the indictment.

Johnson and Kotten then sold them to buyers in New Jersey, Oklahoma, Colorado, New York and elsewhere, transporting the stolen goods in U-Hauls and personal vehicles, the indictment said. The proceeds from these sales allegedly netted the conspirators about $21 million.

Thefts of catalytic converters have spiked in recent years, with thieves using power tools to remove them from vehicles and selling the devices for the precious metals inside them.

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In the Wild’s Blue Line Academy in Des Moines, Daemon Hunt is considered something of an upperclassman.

“Hunt’s been there for a couple of years, so we felt, obviously, that he’s the next guy to come up and play,” Minnesota head coach Dean Evason said.

Hunt, the first of what the Wild believe is a talented young group of defensemen to be called up from Iowa, is all of 21 years old, but he has 69 AHL games under his belt in parts of three seasons with the Wild’s top affiliate.

It wasn’t unexpected.

“I have high expectations for myself and I did believe I could be the next guy to get up here,” Hunt said Tuesday before the Wild’s 8 p.m. puck drop against the Edmonton Oilers at Xcel Energy Center.

Hunt was having a strong camp before suffering a concussion, on a hit from Colorado minor leaguer Tanner Kero, in the team’s first preseason game but said he has recovered fully and back on his A game.

It didn’t appear he would be making his NHL debut on Tuesday. He was called up as insurance with Jon Merrill banged up and the team ready to leave Wednesday for a three-game East Coast road trip. Merrill said after the morning skate he felt ready to go, but Evason said Hunt would go through warmups just in case.

With veteran Dakota Mermis, 29, getting an early callup to Minnesota, the Iowa Wild’s blue line is composed primarily of young draft picks Hunt, Ryan O’Rourke, Simon Johnsson, Carson Lambos, David Spacek and Kyle Masters. Average age, 21.

“We definitely are a bit young back there,” Hunt said. “It was nice having our captain Dakota down there, but that’s awesome he’s here. But I told him he’s like a baby sitter down there with us a bit.”

“I think everyone’s there for a reason, right? They’re all really good hockey players and they can all take care of themselves. They’ve all had really good starts. We haven’t been winning too many games, but I’m sure they’ll find the path soon.”

Iowa (3-3-0) is giving up an average of 4.3 goals — and lost to the Manitoba Moose, 8-3, on Saturday in Winnipeg — but the Wild have seen those young defensemen in at least one training camp, and liked what they’ve seen.

“We’re excited about our blue line down there,” Evason said. “Are they going to give some goals up like they did the other night in Winnipeg? Sure. That’s gonna happen. But they’re going to become pros because of it, and the teaching that (Brett McLean) and his staff will do down there will do great things for them.”

Shooting to thrill

Also up this week is Vinni Lettieri, a veteran pro who was set to make his first start with the Wild, the team he grew up rooting for while playing at Minnetonka and the University of Minnesota.

One thing Wild fans can expect from Lettieri is shots on goal. Last season at AHL Providence, he threw 163 on net while scoring 23 goals and 49 points in 48 games, and his 14 shots — one goal — lead the Iowa Wild this season.

“Even Michael Michael Jordan said he failed so much he succeeded,” Lettieri said after Tuesday’s morning skate. “You’ve gotta keep on shooting. Not every one’s going to go in, and if they did, you should probably win the lottery, as well.”

In three preseason games, Lettieri, 28, had a goal and three assists. In parts of five NHL seasons with the Rangers, Ducks and Bruins, he has seven goals, 11 assists and 126 shots in 83 NHL games.

“It’s not just getting as many shots as you can, because obviously you don’t want any play-killers,” he said. “But when the shot’s there, you never know which shot’s going to go in.”

“You still have to be able to see the game, and see if someone’s open,” Lettieri added, “but I’ve been a shooter all my life, that’s pretty much what I worked on every single day in my basement, and I try to do it as best I can.”

Briefly

Evason confirmed Tuesday that Matt Boldy (upper body) will travel with the team when it leaves for Philadelphia on Wednesday. “He won’t be ready for the start (of the trip),” the coach said, “but maybe at the end.”