The top three seeds – St. Mary’s, Notre Dame and Shrewsbury all move on to the semifinal round, along with #13 Billerica/Chelmsford, which ended Winthrop’s perfect season with a 3-2 win.
St. Mary’s
– St. Mary’s jumped out quickly against #8 Peabody/Lynnfield/North Reading, getting first period goals from Tia Picardi and Jenna Chaplain and then holding the lead for a 2-0 win.
PLNR carried the play for most of the second period, aided by three power plays, but were unable to get a puck past St. Marys goalie Ang Cantino.
“I am proud of the team tonight and the seniors,” said St. Mary’s coach Frank Pagliuca. “(We) found a way to win against a strong team. And (Cantino) played will in net and our six D played well in front of her to limit PLNR offensive chances.”
– Billerica/Chelmsford earned its second straight win over a higher seed and in the process handed #5 Winthrop its only loss of the season, taking a 3-2 win at Cronin Rink. Captain Remore Serra scored two goals to pace the offensive attack, including the tying goal with just 10 seconds left in the second period, and the game-winner.
Kate Harrison had a power play goal in the first period, assisted by Tori Apostolakes. Winthrop, 20-1-0, scored both of its goals in the second period.
“The key tonight was emphasis on protecting the house,” said Billerica/Chelmsford coach Ray Monroe, “and taking the body on their top forwards, as they are very skilled and have good shots, so to limit those opportunities.”
– #2 Notre Dame Academy found itself down 2-0 early on, but fought back for an eventual 5-3 win over #7 Bishop Feehan. Sarah White had a hat trick, including the game-tying goal late in the second period. Morgan Brady notched the game-winner and Carolyn Hartnett also scored for the Cougars, who move on to face Shrewsbury. Caitlin Kelley had two goals and Molly Braga one for Feehan.
– In perhaps the most exciting of the quarterfinal games, Shrewsbury’s Maddie Mrva scored the game-tying goal with 2:12 left in regulation, and then buried the game-winner in double overtime to give the Colonials a 3-2 win over Hingham.
Taylor Ryder had Shrewsbury’s other goal, while Caroline Doherty and Addy Garrity scored for Hingham.
