#5th-seeded Acton-Boxboro hung with top seed and unbeaten Austin Prep for two periods, as this game went into the third period deadlocked at 1-1.
But the Cougars were able to break it open in the third period, scoring four times en route to a 5-1 win over the Colonials and a berth in Sunday’s MIAA Girls Division 1 state final at TD Garden against #2 seed Arlington.
Austin Prep
Austin Prep senior defenseman Maeve Carey put the Cougars up 1-0 early in the first period with a blast from the right side. A-B drew even later in the period on a power play when senior Cailey Ryan snapped home a backhander from the slot.
The second period was scoreless. Acton-Boxboro goaltender Max Anderson did thwart Austin Prep’s Kathryn Karo on a penalty shot to keep the game tied.
Karo would get revenge, however, as she scored in the first minute of the third period to give Austin Prep (26-0-0) a 2-1 lead. Carey followed soon after with the crushing blow, a shorthanded goal to make it 3-1.
McKenzie Cerrato fired home a power play goal, and Madison Vittands finished the scoring with a second shorthanded goal to account for the 5-1 final.
Acton-Boxboro finished an impressive season at 18-5-3 overall.
