Girls Hockey: St. Mary’s season comes to frustrating end

The St. Mary?s girls? hockey team?s trying season came to an unfortunate, albeit fitting, end on Thursday evening with a 1-0 loss to Arlington at the Hingham Showcase.
?Tonight was a lot like the rest of the season,” said Spartans? coach Frank Pagliuca. “We dug ourselves a hole that we couldn?t escape.”
The Spartans yielded a power-play goal late in the second period to Erin O?Brien, assisted by Kristen Sullivan and Ysa Campbell-Breen.
Sophomores Emily Stephenson (10 saves) and Brittany McPherson both played well in the loss, combining for 18 saves.
Pagliuca lauded the play of a quartet of young forwards: freshmen Marisa Cabral and Alex Iacoviello along with eighth-grader Lexi McNeil and seventh-grader Megan Parthum.
?Each of them played strong games, creating a number of scoring chances,” he said.
With the win, the Spy Ponders clinched a spot in the Division 1 state tournament, which will be without St. Mary?s (9-12-1).
But, Pagliuca knows brighter days lies ahead.
?Starting off this season 0-7 proved the difference,” he said. “But we finished the second half of the season 9-5-1 so I?m hoping that kind of success will serve as stepping stones for next year.
?We?re bringing back all but one player so we?re hoping that our experiences from this season can translate into a strong start next winter. That will be our focal point moving forward.”
Defenseman Katarina Roy, the team?s lone senior, drew the praises of her coach.
?For the past two seasons (Roy) has proven a great asset to the program,” he said. “She really stepped up her game as the season went, providing us with a heavy shot from the point and an element of physicality that we lacked early on. She will be sorely missed.”
Watertown 4, Beverly 2
Anna O?Neill and Kristen McCarthy scored in the second period, which the Panthers finished ahead 2-1 before Emily LoPret?s natural hat trick over the final 15 minutes gave the Raiders their second win of the Watertown Tournament.
Madison Jalbert made nine stops in two periods of work for Beverly beforeKyra Wolonsavich made five stops in the final frame.
?We had a terrific regular season, winning the Northeastern Conference, which is always one of our goals at the start,” said Panthers coach Brian Seabury, who expects that his team will earn a top 10 seed in the upcoming state tournament.
Marblehead 5, Matignon 1
The Magicians prevailed in the consolation game of the Newburyport Bank Classic, improving their record to 8-8-4.Hadley Woodfin scored twice, helping her onto the all-tournament team, while Brooke Keough, who had two goals, and Codi Butt tallied in the win. Aly Hopkins made 13 saves for Marblehead.