St. Mary’s girls hockey team goes for second straight state title

Go up and down the St. Mary’s girls hockey team’s roster, and coach Frank Pagliuca has a superlative.But perhaps the biggest compliment he can give his players is this: “I have a great bunch of girls,” he says. “They enjoy each other ? and not just on the ice either. They enjoy being with each other ? it’s just a nice, tight-knit group of kids.”Coming into the season, the Spartans had a tall order to fill. They had to duplicate perfection – certainly not an easy thing to do.But each season is its own entity, and Pagliuca says there’s plenty about this one that makes it special – regardless of what happens today when the Spartans meet Woburn (5 p.m., Boston Garden) for the Division 1 state title. A win would give them back-to-back crowns, a feat that’s only been accomplished five other times in the city’s history (see accompanying box).”It’s a great feeling to be back here,” he said. “I’m very pleased with our overall improvement from Day One to now. Our senior leadership has been outstanding ? and there are other kids who have been around, too, who are stepping into their own.”The team may not have ALL the glitter of last year’s juggernaut, but it has the results, and that’s what counts.”Up and down, I think we’re more balanced this year,” says Pagliuca, whose team is riding a 50-game winning streak over two seasons. “We don’t just rely on a line, or a line-and-a-half this year. We expect everyone who goes out on the ice to contribute.”By now, the names are familiar to those who have been paying attention. Senior defenseman Alex Smith “is one of the best defensemen in the state, I think,” Pagliuca says. “She’s a great leader.”Some of the other players have improved in a big way from last year, and he cites junior Erin McAndrews as having taken the biggest leap.”She’s probably the most improved player over the course of the year,” he says. “She’s developing into an excellent hockey player. Her ability to maintain her balance in traffic is impressive, and she’s taking better shots and attacking the net.”Also among the seniors are goalie Kelsey Magrane (“rock solid; she plays her best in the biggest games ? and outstanding addition to the program ? elevates her game when you need it the most) and center Michelle Golden (“she’s been outstanding all year ? the best passer we’ve had on the team ? her confidence and her ability to make the right play has been huge in this tournament).The Courtney duo – Winters and White – have also played a big role in the team’s success.Winters “has improved tremendously since last year,” Pagliuca says. “She was always a very gifted offensive player, but I’m proudest of how she’s committed herself to the other zone. Plus, we moved her to center and she’s come through. She’s always willing to ask questions and to learn.”White, Pagliuca says, “is probably one of our most underrated players, in terms of her ability to do the dirty work in the corners and around the net. She’s another big-time player in big games ? just like Kelsey. She’s willing to sacrifice her body. Those are the people you want on the ice at the end of big games.”Speed and quickness are one of the team’s main attributes. Smith says the team’s overall speed makes it tough to beat on a wide-open ice surface like the Garden, and one of the speediest skaters out there is Sabrina Iannetti.”She’s one of the best skaters on our team,” Pagliuca says. “And she plays with a tenacious style, killing penalties. And she’s learning to use her speed offensively too.”All of which brings us to today ? and Woburn. The Tanners won a fierce overtime battle Tuesday over Hingham, 3-2. The Spartans played both teams during the season, having a tougher time against the Harbormen. But that doesn’t matter to Pagliuca.”I think they’re an excellent team,” he says. “They’re well coached, disciplined ? and very dangerous.”Colleen Callahan provides much of the offensive spark (she scored the overtime goal over Hingham to complete a hat trick), but for Pagliuca’s