ARLINGTON – Forward of its first state match recreation in three years, the Acton-Boxboro women hockey group – per eighth-grader Laila Randolph’s unique suggestion – turned off the lights within the locker room Wednesday night time and placed on Disney’s famously depicted “Miracle” speech that USA hockey coach Herb Brooks gave to the 1980 males’s Olympic ice hockey group that shocked the Soviet Union.
An ideal inspiration for an underdog, and one which partly energized the No. 20 Revolution (16-5-3) to a 2-1 upset win over No. 13 Arlington Catholic within the Div. 1 first-round at Ed Burns Enviornment.
Sophomore Alexis Maranian potted the game-winner on a 5-on-3 energy play with 7:09 left, pairing with a stellar 28-save displaying from sophomore goalie Gigi Welch to assist Acton-Boxboro advance.
“We have been all enthusiastic about (watching the speech),” Welch mentioned. “I feel it’s actually about that you simply labored so laborious to be right here. Exhibiting as much as play and dealing laborious by all of it is admittedly necessary in these sorts of conditions. There’s plenty of stress and stress. Our previous two video games weren’t so good, and we actually simply saying that doesn’t matter, we should always simply give attention to what’s forward of us proper now.”
That stress and stress offered itself in a down-to-the-wire end.
Acton-Boxboro had taken a 1-0 lead within the second on Riley Bergeron’s aim, just for a number of waves of Arlington Catholic stress to lastly money in on Kate Frawley’s game-tying aim early within the third.
After main Div. 1 in objectives scored within the common season, the Revolution hadn’t been a lot used to having only one coming into the final 10 minutes. A Cougars’ penalty arrange an influence play with a fast shot and rebound bid that Elise Holland (30 saves) coated up, they usually have been whistled once more after the play for a cross-check and 1:39 of 5-on-3.
9 seconds later, Maranian was vast open on the backdoor for the eventual game-winner with 7:09 left.
“I feel it simply goes again to our philosophy, the place we at all times need to have numbers,” mentioned Acton-Boxboro head coach Joe Marashio. “At the moment they actually purchased into it, we had numbers all day lengthy. Once we get our possibilities, we’re often fairly good.”
Arlington Catholic wasn’t performed combating, persevering with to generate some beauty on Welch. After pulling the goalie with below a minute left, it then obtained a 6-on-4 energy play with 29 seconds left.
Welch and the protection held off the Cougars.
“I used to be fairly anxious,” Welch mentioned. “It’s a must to hope somewhat bit. I prayed earlier than this recreation. I prayed throughout the recreation. It’s simply, I don’t know. I do know my group has plenty of grit, so I feel deep down I knew we have been going to push by.”
The win additional strengthens a formidable turnaround for this system, which missed the playoffs final yr at 7-11-2, and in 2024 at 8-12. It made it in 2023, however with a 2-20 report.
“I feel the ladies type of got here collectively all through the season and began enjoying for one another,” Marashio mentioned. “They’ve simply grown as hockey gamers and (are) understanding extra that it’s not a person effort, it’s a group effort.”
