Girls’ hockey edges Duxbury for program-defining win

Senior captain Mary McNeil has a team-high 19 points through 15 games. (Mike Barucci photo)

Led by their stellar senior captains and bolstered by a strong and energetic home crowd, the Canton High School girls varsity hockey team finally snagged the signature win they had been striving for — outlasting the four-time defending state champion Duxbury Dragons 5-4 at Metropolis Rink last Thursday.

The thrilling victory, highlighted by senior captain Mary McNeil’s natural hat trick and a gutsy 5-on-3 penalty kill late in the third period, ranks as one of the most impressive of the CHS athletics year to date and could very well be considered the greatest win in team history.

“I can’t think of a bigger victory in the history of the girls ice hockey program,” said head coach Dennis Aldrich after the game. “Duxbury has only lost three games in the last four years — two were to Falmouth and now one is to Canton.”

Aldrich was also quick to point out how no team had managed to score more than three goals against the Dragons this season — until the Bulldogs put up five on them, all in the first two periods.

Team scoring leader McNeil had the first three for Canton, including a dazzling goal in the opening period to put the hosts up 1-0.

“Mary had a great, great start to the game,” said Aldrich. “Her first one was just a work of art.”

She went on to score the next two for the Bulldogs, but Duxbury managed to hang around thanks to a pair of goals by star forward Jane Dudley.

Momentum then continued to shift toward the Dragons as they found themselves on the power play shortly after Dudley scored to make it a one-goal game. But the shorthanded Bulldogs refused to be rattled and ended up adding to their lead thanks to a sensational, end-to-end goal by freshman defenseman Mary Thompson.

Four minutes later, senior captain Kelsey Trerice would knock home Canton’s fifth of the day to give the hosts a commanding three-goal advantage heading into the final frame.

Refusing to go quietly, Duxbury battled back to make it a 5-4 game with just over four minutes left. Things then went from bad to worse as the Bulldogs were whistled for two straight penalties, but the trio of McNeil, Trerice and Jackie Martin neutralized the Dragons’ 5-on-3 advantage, aided by a Duxbury penalty around the two-minute mark.

Senior captain Kelsey Trerice (Mike Barucci photo)

Even when they were down two players, Aldrich said he never doubted that the girls would get it done. “I look out on the ice and see the three C’s on the shoulders out there, and I just had a feeling that these kids are going to take care of us,” he said.

Aldrich said that same confidence he has in the captains also applies to the whole team, including standout freshman goalie Colleen Kelleher, who looked poised throughout the game and made several big saves.

“Every time it looked like it was going [Duxbury’s] way, we answered,” said Aldrich. “That’s what I love about this team — there’s no panic in these kids at all. They’re very, very poised. They’re very trusting in each other, and they’re the most coachable group of kids I’ve ever had.”

Aldrich said the girls have now proven that they can play with any team in the state, and that was evident again on Saturday as the Bulldogs went toe to toe with undefeated Barnstable in an eventual 2-1 road defeat.

“Our kids battled like crazy. I’m really proud,” said the Canton coach, who had matchups like this one in mind when he moved the program to the SEMGHL Coastal Division last season.

McNeil had the lone goal for the Bulldogs against Barnstable, assisted by Martin, and Kelleher finished with 23 saves in net. McNeil also had a goal called back in the first period, and the team had a few good scoring chances late in the third “but just couldn’t put it home,” according to Aldrich.

The Bulldogs were due to return to action on Wednesday at home against Westwood, followed by another home contest Saturday versus Falmouth and an away game on Sunday at Sandwich.

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Posted by Jay Turner on Feb 5 2015. Filed under High School, Sports. Both comments and pings are currently closed.