SUDBURY — Offensive corners appear to be the bread and butter of the Acton-Boxboro subject hockey workforce’s assault, and a piece of what it practices is devoted towards ending damaged performs in these alternatives.
That paid off Wednesday afternoon with the Dual County League title within the stability, as A-B scored two targets on busted corners within the third quarter to narrowly beat Lincoln-Sudbury, 2-1.
Defenses starred for each models as harmful probabilities across the purpose have been restricted, making the eight second-half corners the Revolution (11-2-1) produced all of the extra impactful. Especially in a win they grinded by for one more league title regardless of coping with just a few accidents.
“We had adjustments to make, and we did,” stated Acton-Boxboro coach Mae Shoemaker. “That just sealed the DCL for them, so it was important. … Winning while they’re missing (important pieces was huge).”
Acton-Boxboro led the shot battle at halftime, however all of its pictures got here from simply contained in the circle because the Warriors (6-3-3) snuffed out any alternatives by the purpose in a scoreless affair. The Revs had a tough time breaking by till the corners began rolling in after the break.
Lincoln-Sudbury almost cleared the primary nook of the second half halfway by the third quarter, however Shannon Patrick intercepted the ball earlier than helping Sarah Ryan’s purpose from close to the stroke for a 1-0 lead. Devin Onken dashed towards a sluggish cross on the Revs’ subsequent nook, slamming in a 2-0 lead simply across the goaltender with 3:46 left within the quarter.
Neither purpose went precisely as deliberate, however that’s why A-B practices these performs. And it was no coincidence each targets got here on the primary two corners of the half after being restricted to only three corners earlier than the break.
“Once we scored our energy just shifted and we were really attacking the ball,” stated Revs senior Cat Holtz. “Sometimes it’s hard to start out with energy but then once we score or get a bunch of corner opportunities, that’s when we really pick it up. … I think we’re just really gritty in the circle.”
“If you get corners, you’ve got seven people against four,” Shoemaker added. “You should be able to do something with it. They’ve been working much better this year.”
Lincoln-Sudbury took benefit of its lone second-half nook in response, with Blaire Brennan burying a missile with simply 1:23 left to play.
It was the one important blemish in an in any other case spotless defensive show from A-B, which staved off just a few promising transitions from Warriors ahead Ellie Innes. Emily Chen and Abby Depew have been essential in holding virtually all the pieces contained to the surface, guaranteeing the Revs completed on the suitable facet of the defensive showdown.
“My defense stepped up big time,” Shoemaker stated. “They had some good opportunities and the defense stepped up. That’s what they were supposed to do, play everything to the outside.”
The result’s one other DCL title so as to add to the Revs’ massive trophy case.
“Obviously we’re excited about it but I think it just reminds us that the job’s not finished,” Holtz stated. “It’s just one step in our process.”
Source: www.bostonherald.com