HAVERHILL — Halfway by the season, it appears the HPNA women hockey workforce has developed right into a third-period stalwart.
Senior Mia Kmiec scored twice in a three-goal ultimate body Wednesday evening, lifting No. 4 HPNA (10-1-2) to a 3-0 win over No. 15 Billerica/Chelmsford in a signature MVC/DCL Massive matchup at Veterans Memorial Skating Rink.
The Lindians (6-3-2) led shots-on-goal 15-8 over the primary two durations and generated a handful of Grade-A appears to be like. However HPNA, which edged out a wild, comeback win over No. 14 Malden Catholic within the third interval on Monday, flipped the swap within the ultimate body to comb the common season collection towards Billerica/Chelmsford.
“Originally of the season, (we had been) positively not a third-period workforce,” Kmiec mentioned. “We began choosing it up. We’ve had quite a lot of video games the place we haven’t scored an excessive amount of or produced within the first and second, after which we realized we simply should sustain the work. … We went into the locker room after the second and all of us sort of (mentioned) we’ve bought to maintain our heads up and maintain our momentum.”
Inside a 7-4 benefit in photographs over the past quarter-hour, Kmiec scored the game-winning aim with 6:51 left. Charlotte Woodford added insurance coverage lower than two minutes in a while a rebound, and Kmiec iced the sport with simply 46 seconds left.
“It’s enjoyable, they’re actually beginning to consider in one another,” HPNA head coach Gary Kane mentioned of one other robust end within the third interval. “It’s enjoyable to see them now sort of develop up into the sport. … That was an enormous character win final recreation towards Malden Catholic, and you would sort of see them persist with the plan.”
The Lindians began the sport in a fury, accruing a 6-0 lead in photographs over the primary 5 minutes. They excelled to find cutters to the center for Grade-A appears to be like, however HPNA goalie Chris Hinchcliffe (19 saves) was regular between the pipes for her fourth shutout this 12 months.
Her robust efficiency continued with an eight-save second, denying Billerica/Chelmsford from taking the lead whereas HPNA was restricted on the assault. The outing provides to what’s been a robust 12 months, filling the sneakers of former star goalie Julianna Taylor.
“It’s been superb (to see her step into the function) because the begin of the season,” Kane mentioned. “They had been swarming. … She’s bought actually good imaginative and prescient, and she or he’s actually fast.”
“She’s at all times superb,” Kmiec added. “You are feeling secure having her again there. Our protection is superb, however you additionally know that you could depend on (Hinchcliffe).”
In fact it was the senior captain who gave HPNA the primary and solely lead of the sport in third interval.
Keira Hegarty set her up with an amazing move from the nook to Kmiec in entrance, and she or he buried the aim.
“It’s very easy when you’ve got a workforce to carry one another up,” Kmiec mentioned. “I couldn’t have accomplished that with out Keira, that move was superior.”
Billerica/Chelmsford successfully blocked many photographs from the purpose within the first two durations, taking away a key a part of HPNA’s assault. However Savannah Bissonnette bought one by to Taylor Bierschied in entrance, who tipped it off Lindians goalie Gianna Cedrone (12 saves). The rebound sat within the crease, and Woodford completed it off with 5:03 left.
Kmiec’s shot from the appropriate circle sealed a top quality displaying.
