Two goals from defenseman McKenna Colella in the second period snapped a 1-1 deadlocked and powered #2 Duxbury to a convincing 5-1 win over #3 Andover in Saturday’s MIAA Girls Division 2 semifinal showdown.
The two tallies were just what the Dragons needed to assume control of the game. After a quick start in the first period for Duxbury, Andover was able to return serve in the latter stages of the opening period.
“We came out and took it to them in the first seven minutes,” said Duxbury coach Dan Najarian. “They (Andover) then punched back at the end of the period. I think the girls woke up between periods. You don’t get a chance to go to the Garden very often. You have to take advantage of it. We imposed our will in the second and third periods and were the better hockey team.”
Sophomore Maddie Greenwood also had two goals, and it was her first tally that gave Duxbury a 1-0 lead just 2:40 into the game. Jumping into the play in the offensive zone after a line change, Greenwood got a pass in the slot and whistled home a wrist shot.
Andover would tie it up after Rose MacLean carried the puck down the left wing, cut in and put a shot home past Duxbury goalie Anna McGinty.
Colella scored from the left point early in the second period, and then followed minutes later with a nifty individual rush, scoring while falling to the ice. It stood at 3-1 after two periods.
The Warriors were looking to rally in the third period, but Greenwood netted her second goal just 21 seconds on a power play to make it a 4-1 ballgame.
Defenseman Sami Norton closed out the scoring for Duxbury, which will face Canton in the D2 state final on March 19th at TD Garden.
– Canton advanced by taking down the tournament’s top seed Archbishop Williams for the second time this season. In a defensive battle, the Bulldogs emerged victorious with a 1-0 win.
Canton
Senior Audrey Koen scored the game’s only goal, with an unassisted tally with just 2:38 left to play in regulation. The senior was able to beat the Bishop’s freshman goalie Evelyn Lacey with a wrap-around backhander.
Canton is no stranger to the D2 state final at TD Garden, making its fourth trip in six years (2017, 2018 and 2022). The Bulldogs also would have gone in 2020, but the championship games were cancelled due to the pandemic and they were named a co-state champion that year.
The Bulldogs also beat Archbishop Williams in the regular season, taking a 2-1 win back on February 6th.
Canton and Duxbury also met in the regular season, and the two teams skated to a 1-1 standoff. It should be a great state final.
