BOSTON – A hockey team with a gold logo took the TD Garden ice Sunday night. No, it wasn’t Boston – it was St. Mary’s.
The girls hockey team arrived in Beantown looking for its first state title since 2013. Unfortunately for the Spartans – and despite a historic season – it was a disappointing page to end the book.
No. 3 Shrewsbury upset No. 1 St. Mary’s 4-1, scoring three goals in the third period to cap things off.
Nevertheless, what a season it was for the Spartans. St. Mary’s won four postseason games, scored more than 100 goals, and lost just two games all season behind head coach Frank Pagliuca.
Shrewsbury, in its first title game, struck first. The puck rolled to a patiently-waiting Taylor Ryder near the crease, and the righty smacked it in to put the Colonials ahead 1-0 in the first period – one St. Mary’s, actually, got the better of.
Doing what she does, Shrewsbury goalie Marisa Montoya racked up 10 saves after one.
But to say the least – St. Mary’s has a pretty good goalie, too. Ang Catino made eight saves in a second period favoring the Colonials, keeping her team to within one (1-0) heading into the third.
On offense, the Spartans’ zone entries were effective, but an established offense was hiding – and, frankly, itching to show itself in the title game.
Into the third we went. And if there was one thing present through two periods, it was intensity. Between the dueling student sections – St. Mary’s decked out in Saint Patrick’s Day green – and nearly-identical shots on goal (14-12 Shrewsbury after two), it was a nail-biter.
Captains lead. In her last game as a Spartan, Amanda Forziati scored the equalizer (1-1) just 2:33 into the third.
After a shot from the point, Forziati positioned herself perfectly near the crease and potted the rebound – assisted by Jenna Chaplain and Haylie Grossmann.
It seemed like the goal tilted the ice, as St. Mary’s Maggie Pierce nearly followed with a single-effort backhander that nearly trickled in.
That said, the momentum was short-lived.
Shrewsbury scored another – this one on the power play – with around 10 minutes to go (2-1). Between some close offside calls, and passes just barely missing their marks, frustration began to mount for the Spartans.
And just like that, it was over. Shrewsbury’s Maddie Mrva took things into her own hands, literally. The senior defender stick-handled her way through the defense before tucking an unassisted back-hander past Catino.
An empty-netter later, and there was your 4-1 score.
St. Mary’s, however, had nine underclassmen this season. So, if there’s one thing fans can be excited for – it’s next season.
