HINGHAM – The Hingham ladies hockey crew began 2026 a lot of the identical approach it ended 2025 – a gritty win over a reliable state title contender.
A day after edging Archbishop Williams in additional time on New 12 months’s Eve, the No. 5 Harborwomen (6-1-1) used a three-goal second interval and a stellar defensive exhibiting to beat No. 9 Westwood, 4-1, on New 12 months’s Day.
Izzy McGarr’s 26 saves proved pivotal in a real battle, whereas 4 completely different gamers scored for the defending Div. 1 state champions. Westwood had scored a minimum of 5 objectives in every of its first 4 video games prior.
Hingham’s win on back-to-back days is spectacular by itself given the competitors, however it’s also a bounce-back from a 6-2 loss to Milton within the Tenney Cup semifinals on Monday.
Westwood (4-1) made Hingham labor fairly a bit Thursday, however the Harborwomen had been as much as the duty regardless of enjoying their seventh recreation in 12 days.
“The youngsters are on college trip and we’ve performed quite a lot of hockey,” Hingham head coach Courtney Turner mentioned. “I believe having the ability to reply in back-to-back video games is only a testomony to how a lot coronary heart they’ve within the locker room, and the desire to win, and type of the depth that we now have. … It stinks to lose, I don’t suppose they like that. So, it was nice to see the response. Milton, Archies and Westwood are actually nice groups.”
Hingham had a 14-4 shot benefit within the first interval, although Westwood’s forecheck generated hectic exercise across the internet over a number of stints. Sam McCabe, CC Flynn and Bria Bellew stood out on protection to eradicate area within the defensive zone and get a contact on seemingly each menace.
McGarr stepped up within the second, recording eight saves within the interval throughout 2:27 of penalty kill. Westwood outshot Hingham, 14-7, within the body, however the Harborwomen acquired scrappy on the assault to construct a 3-0 lead.
Julia Whitney scored the primary objective, sniping the highest far nook from the left circle after battling for positioning. Callie Crean wanted simply 17 seconds into an influence play to make it 2-0, preventing for a free puck by the submit earlier than powering it in. And with 4:37 left within the second, Katie Teague did the identical in entrance, banking in a shot off Westwood goalie Jennifer Lin’s aspect for a 3-0 benefit.
A lot of Hingham’s firepower from final 12 months’s title run is gone, so these are the scrappy objectives Turner appears for from her crew to intestine out large wins – particularly with how effectively Lin (25 saves) performed in any other case.
“Final 12 months we scored our objectives somewhat bit otherwise,” Turner mentioned. “I believe it’s simply necessary for our character, and for the best way that we’re going to play hockey this 12 months, that we proceed to get these type of objectives.”
Westwood acquired 10 extra pictures on McGarr within the third, one in every of which Maggie Ash trickled by way of the five-hole off an preliminary save, chopping the deficit to 3-1 within the first minute of the body.
However her breakaway alternative shortly after was stonewalled by McGarr in an in any other case dominant exhibiting, regardless of Westwood peppering her throughout a couple of stints. Hingham acquired that objective again with 5:13 left, which Ellie Bellew completed off an excellent feed throughout the center.
“(McGarr) was simply strong,” Turner mentioned. “Her rebound management was nice. She was overlaying pucks once we wanted it. I believe protection wins video games, and our protection performed good tonight. The objectives will come, however she actually held us in there – particularly within the second interval.”
