For all of the speak about how robust the St. Mary’s of Lynn ladies hockey workforce’s protection stood and the way potent the assault was this 12 months getting into its first state last look in a decade, the opposing workforce set to play in its first look ever felt a bit spurned to be as ignored because it was.
In the Div. 1 ladies state title sport Sunday night time at TD Garden, it confirmed why.
Along with a dominant defensive effort to restrict the top-seeded Spartans to a uncommon six photographs on web over the ultimate two intervals, the No. 3 Colonials powered their strategy to a three-goal third interval for a 4-1 win and this system’s first state championship.
Defenders Yasmine McKenzie and Maddie Mrva have been instrumental in containing St. Mary’s to simply its second sport with lower than two objectives this season, all earlier than scoring the respective go-ahead and insurance coverage objectives within the last body.
Amanda Forziati had tied the rating for the Spartans early within the third to finish Risa Montoya’s shutout, however the junior netminder (15 saves) wouldn’t let the rest by way of to safe the win.
For head coach Frank Panarelli, it’s been an extended construct of tradition to get so far. But after 15 years and becoming a member of the daunting MVC/DCL for elite preparation, he and the Colonials are lastly champions.
“Just a great game for us,” he mentioned. “This is for everyone in the town, who was great. It was a great thing for the program, it’s 15 years we never made it. We got here (and) it was fitting that we beat the No. 1 team that was ranked from the (preseason) all the way until now. We beat them. … They all bought in and they worked so hard.”
After Montoya stood on her head with 10 saves within the opening interval, Shrewsbury took benefit of wide-open area on the weak aspect when Katie Vona snuck the puck throughout the purpose to Taylor Ryder for a 1-0 lead with 5 minutes left within the body.
Shrewsbury’s protection took off from there, monitoring star scorer Jenna Chaplain carefully and plugged up most gaps to the within. St. Mary’s couldn’t get many harmful appears to be like, and even solely acquired two photographs on Montoya in a charged second-period effort.
“I think it starts with having the best D partner in the state (in McKenzie),” Mrva mentioned. “We wouldn’t have been able to do it without each other, so I’m just really happy that we were able to have a solid game together. We always have each other’s back no matter what, that’s been a really nice thing to have.”
As the Spartans prevented the Colonials from extending their lead for over 20 minutes, it wasn’t till 12:47 left within the sport that St. Mary’s tallied its lone purpose, with Forziati following a rebound for the 1-1 tie.
Shrewsbury didn’t flinch in response, although, drawing a penalty that McKenzie wanted simply 25 seconds to capitalize on. Her shot from the purpose navigated by way of visitors, registering a 2-1 lead lower than three minutes after Forziati tallied the neutralizer.
“It was such a blur,” McKenzie mentioned. “That power play, it was really what we needed to get us going on the right foot.”
Defense continued to disrupt every thing in its personal zone, and it wasn’t lengthy till Mrva dangled by way of the zone and wrapped a purpose round St. Mary’s goalie Angelina Cantino (16 saves) for the 3-1 lead with 2:13 to go. Paige Umile added an empty-netter shortly after, and the remaining is historical past.
Source: www.bostonherald.com