WOBURN — Its backs are in opposition to the wall, however the two-time defending champion Belmont women hockey crew isn’t but achieved defending its Middlesex League Liberty crown.
A whole effort powered the No. 20 Marauders (10-4-3) to a much-needed 3-1 win over No. 17 Woburn on Saturday afternoon, snapping the league-leading Tanners’ (12-4) seven-game win streak whereas pulling inside two factors of them for the division lead with two league video games left for every.
As of proper now, Woburn’s solely two losses in league play are to Belmont.
“It was rewarding for the ladies and only a nice win,” Marauders head coach Brendan Kelleher stated. “Certainly one of our objectives is a league championship and we in all probability want some assist from another groups if that’s going to occur once more this 12 months. However the competitors – each crew is in it each recreation and there’s no nights off. In the present day was a really fulfilling and full day.”
Senior captain Mackenzie Clarke scored twice for the Marauders, each proving important at completely different levels.
As juniors Martha Dimas and Elsie Lakin-Schultz anchored a standout defensive effort that held Woburn to 2 pictures on objective within the first interval, Belmont established an early benefit. Dimas drew consideration in entrance on an influence play, permitting Mackenzie Tierney’s shot from the purpose to attain for a 1-0 lead.
Towards the top of the primary, Clarke escaped a congested faceoff on the proper circle for an open lane to the web. She danced with the puck a bit earlier than committing to the backhand – lifting it previous Cadence Pearce (24 saves) to increase the result in 2-0.
These objectives, a powerful forecheck paced by Mia Smith, and a 12-2 pictures benefit put Belmont in a powerful place.
“That was actually vital,” Dimas stated of the primary interval. “That set the tone for the way in which we had been going to play the sport. We’d like depth from the start.”
Woburn answered within the second and third intervals, outshooting Belmont 22-15.
Marauders goalie Elinor Dorn (23 saves) and the protection had been up for the problem, although, particularly in one other shutout second interval.
“We knew it was going to be a battle the second we received right here,” Kelleher stated. “All 4 D in the present day performed very stable. Transitioning the puck, shifting it up – they carry a lot to us again there. … It was going to take a whole effort from (Dorn) all the way in which out.”
Savannah Powers, Juliana Ferragamo and Nora Kennedy paced the Tanners assault because it saved ramping up strain, bringing a fury within the third interval that almost pulled off a comeback. Belmont generated 5 pictures over the primary jiffy of the body, however the final 12 minutes noticed Woburn tilt the ice for a 13-3 pictures benefit.
Nonetheless, Dorn didn’t enable a objective till the final three minutes of the sport.
“She did an excellent job,” Kelleher stated. “She’s come up large in plenty of video games for us this 12 months. She actually had some nice saves down the stretch. She’s very cool, calm, collected … and she or he does what she does.”
Woburn lastly received on the board with 2:16 left, as a shot from the skin deflected off of Dorn and sat within the crease for Avery Tapp to bury. The Tanners pulled Pearce for an additional skater after she made two nice saves to maintain it 2-1, however Clarke potted an empty-netter with 32 seconds left to seal it.
Regardless of all that strain, Belmont’s protection solely allowed one objective in a signature displaying.
“Communication was a giant half,” Dimas stated. “Within the second interval, they received plenty of possibilities. We went into the locker room and stated, ‘Alright, we’ve received to repair that.’ So we simply began speaking extra, and we had been actually stepping up, ensuring every of us had been doing our personal job. However unified.”
