PEABODY – Through its first nine games, Bishop Fenwick’s girls’ hockey team has rallied around the recurring theme of a youth-laden roster, an identity that for most teams, means “wait until next year.”
Sunday morning at McVann-O’Keefe Rink, the Crusaders perfectly demonstrated the pros and cons that accompany a team with such a makeup in a 3-2 loss to Auburn.
After a sluggish first period ended in a 1-0 deficit, Fenwick matched the Rockets stride for stride throughout the remainder of the game, which seemed destined to end in a stalemate after freshman Maddie Williams banged home a loose puck in the crease with 4:33 to go in regulation.
Fellow first-year (and leading goal-scorer with 11) Amanda Blanchette picked up an assist on the equalizer along with senior captain Nicole Muir.
It wasn’t to be however, as Auburn had an immediate answer in the form of Julia Crowley who snuck a wrist shot through the pads of junior goaltender, Meghan Woodworth (19 saves), just 1:12 later.
The Crusaders would lay siege to the offensive zone until the final horn sounded, but to no avail.
?It’s a bit disappointing that we weren’t able to come away with a point today, but I was thrilled with the effort we showed after coming out slow in the first period,” said coach Doug Anderson whose team sits at 4-4-1, a mark good enough for a spot in the state tournament if the season were to end today.
?Auburn has some very talented players but we were able to contain them for the most part. I thought that we got stronger as the game progressed and relieved some of the pressure on (Woodworth) who played an excellent game.”
Trailing 2-0 after two periods, the hosts were finally rewarded for their increased efforts when sophomore Taylor Farrin buried a shot to the top right corner from the slot, following a sensational pass from defenseman, Lauren Coccoluto, stationed behind the goal line on her knees.
?She’s a strong skater and an exceptional talent who will be a big part of this team’s bright future,” said Anderson of Coccoluto (Saugus), who skates alongside fellow-freshman, Allie Giguere (Lynn), on Fenwick’s top defensive pairing.
Senior captain Maggie Clark was also credited with an assist on the play.
A 9-1, first period advantage in shots for the Rockets included the ice-breaker at 9:02 when Hunter Bailey forced a turnover at the top of the left circle before Amalia Monson’s initial shot deflected off the near-post and across the line to a waiting Samantha Foulkrod who poked it home.
?They were bigger and a bit stronger on the puck than some of our younger players which was a big difference in the game,” said Anderson of the visitors, who extended their lead to 2-0 at the 5:28 mark of the second period on a shot from the point by Sydney Mayo (assisted by Katie Mason).
Fenwick’s best chance of the opening 30 minutes came about four minutes beforehand when Farrin was robbed blind by Rockets goaltender Nicole LaCroix (13 saves), who stretched out her left pad along the goal-line, following a rebound-chance created by Coccoluto.
?This was a state tournament team a year ago and we have them everything they could handle today,” said Anderson.?We’re a team that starts four freshman (Blanchette, Coccoluto, Giguere, Williams) and a sophomore (Meghan Carney) so there were always going to be some growing pains.
?We’ve played in three consecutive close games that required our goalie to be pulled,” Anderson said. “We’ve hung around in every one and seem to have taken things to the next level which is a really good indication of where this program is headed.”Fenwick looks to get back in the win column Wednesday against host Peabody (5:15).