WORCESTER – Reading discipline hockey head coach Taylor Reynolds watched her highschool coach, Ann Simons, win her first state title with Longmeadow after 42 years final season.
At WPI on Saturday, it was Reynolds and her Rockets’ flip to make historical past.
Ava Goodwin delivered the game-winning objective on the left put up in time beyond regulation, securing top-seeded Reading its first Div. 2 state championship with a 2-1 win over No. 2 Norwood at WPI. It was the second objective the Rockets (22-1) scored in a 15-minute span, overcoming an offensive wrestle that noticed each groups closely restricted many of the method regardless of a handful of Grade-A alternatives.
“This is just a special group, a lot of the seniors have been on my team since freshman year and it was a work in the making,” Reynolds stated. “Knowing all that we could accomplish and to get here, I mean, I can’t even describe how it feels. … I wanted this when I was a player. And to be here and watch them earn it. They earned it until the last possible second. It was a great game.”
Mustangs (20-3) goalie Ava O’Neil (10 saves), Reading goalie Myles Lakin (eight saves) and each defenses had been phenomenal in snuffing out important scoring threats all through, actually testing the advantage of two of the division’s most potent offenses. Just one objective was scored on a nook regardless of 18 mixed probabilities. Ava Hines gave Norwood a 1-0 lead on late within the third quarter.
Reading didn’t waste a lot time to reply, as its nook protection within the fourth quarter helped get Danielle Bowers the ball in transition. She dribbled previous 4 defenders earlier than ending off a bullet in stride for the 1-1 tie with 10:50 to go.
Lakin and O’Neil traded game-saving performs from there, and each protection prevented loads of stress from turning into photographs.
With 5:37 left in time beyond regulation, although, a ship from the fitting facet of the circle made its approach to Goodwin in wide-open house on the far put up. She wouldn’t miss, giving 10 seniors a correct send-off.
“I just had that hole opening and slammed it in,” Goodwin stated. “I’m just so happy. My team is literally my whole entire world. I just feel so grateful to be able to just celebrate this with them.”
Source: www.bostonherald.com