Shrewsbury ladies hockey head coach Frank Panarelli was ecstatic when his program switched leagues to hitch the vaunted MVC/DCL Massive in 2021, figuring out how necessary the problem was on its method to finally successful its first Div. 1 state title a pair years later.
It’s an analogous pleasure that Paul Hardy felt when Lincoln-Sudbury moved up from the Small division to hitch the loaded pack in 2023. That goes for Tommy McGrath, too, when Boston Latin made the identical soar final 12 months. It’s no secret how cutthroat the league is; it’s talked about far an excessive amount of for it to be.
However the proof is within the pudding with a revolving door of league champions most years. Gamers can see its problem on a nightly foundation. And other than the Catholic Central League, no convention/league has produced as many state semifinalists in ladies hockey than the MVC/DCL during the last 10 years. They’re tied for essentially the most with 13 appearances.
It’s for all these causes that Methuen/Tewksbury felt each shock and pleasure final 12 months when it went unbeaten in league play to win its first MVC/DCL Massive title since 2019. Gamers and coaches felt its magnitude after navigating a tense schedule that had 14 one-goal finishes.
There have been far fewer of these video games this 12 months. However the wins have been the identical, and Wednesday night time, with a 4-1 win over Shrewsbury in its final league matchup of the common season, Methuen/Tewksbury (16-0-2) – by some means – went unbeaten once more for a uncommon repeat league crown.
“We play in opposition to so many good groups,” stated Crimson Rangers interim head coach Ryan Sheehy. “To have the ability to come out on high and never have a (league) loss in these two years is simply unimaginable. … Wanting again, it’s like, ‘How did we try this?’ ”
In brief – camaraderie, a relentless effort, and a suffocating protection.
Star junior defender Lyla Chapman and senior Dream-Staff goalie Lydia Barnes smiled at one another and laughed on the reference of simply how good Methuen/Tewksbury has been this 12 months in opposition to opposing assaults. Each out of humility, and their consciousness of its worth.
The Crimson Rangers lead the state in objectives allowed with simply two video games left within the common season, surrendering simply eight thus far for a surprising 0.44 GAA. Barnes has a case because the state’s high goalie as soon as once more with 11 shutouts, and Methuen/Tewksbury has posted a number of video games permitting lower than 10 photographs on her so as to add to that dominance.
“We don’t speak about (main the state in objectives allowed), however everybody is aware of,” Chapman stated. “Our two coaches say it, we’re a defensive workforce. We’ve identified that. … We take a lot satisfaction in our protection and (in Barnes).”
“The spine is the protection,” Barnes added. “You may’t win a sport with out protection. That’s form of our mentality.”
What goes into that dominance is layered, however the Crimson Rangers’ strategy is on the coronary heart of it.
Chapman, eighth-grader Kenzie Dunnet, and freshmen Lauren Ryan and Maeve Burns lead a blue line that aggressively works to disclaim the defensive zone. A litany of hard-working two-way forwards assist them suffocate assaults once they do achieve it, and breakouts are extraordinarily fast. And no matter doesn’t get cleared instantly, Barnes is each gifted and composed in web to ensure little will get by her.
“It’s all effort,” Sheehy stated. “Each ends of the ice, all three zones, are all effort. In the event that they do break in, we escape fairly fast. We don’t permit too many photographs. … Once you have a look at us play, we simply suffocate individuals within the defensive zone, break that puck out and go to work within the offensive zone.”
Thus far, solely Waltham has scored a couple of purpose in opposition to Methuen/Tewksbury.
Sheehy, Barnes and Chapman all gave completely different solutions on which sport this 12 months felt like the very best “Crimson Rangers efficiency” that can assist them return to the Div. 1 state semifinals for a second straight 12 months – however all three (1-0 win over HPNA, 2-0 win over Billerica/Chelmsford and a 4-1 win over Shrewsbury) featured that protection firing on all cylinders.
As Chapman and Barnes say, a defensive emphasis has been instilled in them by the teaching workers since Day 1 with this system. It began with former head coach Dave O’Hearn, who inspiringly coached by a rigorous combat with most cancers final 12 months up till the Crimson Rangers fell within the state semifinals. He would at all times inform the protection to not permit opponents previous their blue line.
This complete season has been devoted to O’Hearn after he handed away over the offseason, which has been one other main driver within the Crimson Rangers’ success.
“(Successful the league) positively feels extra particular this 12 months too with every little thing we’ve gone by collectively,” Chapman stated. “If I’m drained or one thing, or if I don’t really feel good, I’m nonetheless going to attempt my hardest on the ice as a result of (O’Hearn) could be down our necks, saying ‘bear down, stick with it.’ So I at all times preserve him at the back of my head, that’s my motive for taking part in.”
“I come out day by day, taking part in as onerous as I can as a result of I do know if he had been right here, he’d be wanting us to try this,” Barnes added. “The juniors and seniors that had been right here, coming again this 12 months, we had been one purpose quick. So, I feel positively that sits at the back of our thoughts somewhat bit and retains us going. And we positively wish to do it for coach Dave as effectively, so we’ve simply bought to maintain working.”
Sheehy spoke glowingly of Barnes and Chapman’s affect on the workforce, as leaders and performers. Chapman has been a significant piece on the assault, too, which has been the primary focus of enchancment during the last couple years with objectives onerous to return by.
Thus far, Methuen/Tewksbury has simply 4 video games with below two objectives scored, although. Sammy Ryan, Ella Duffy and Emily Barbosa are the veterans up high main the way in which, whereas Sarah Marano and Sophia Barbosa have additionally delivered some huge objectives for main indicators of progress.
Paired with the protection and a robust management group, Sheehy is a lot assured in one other run searching for their first state title since 2019.
“We now have so many nice defensemen and forwards that play two-way,” he stated. “Simply with the ability to lock down the defensive zone, we squeak one purpose in, we expect we’re fairly good. (Holding) that protection to a excessive customary is a key for us and it’s been working thus far.”
Snapping droughts
It’s been a memorable season for a lot of boys packages which were banging on the door over the previous few years, snapping lengthy league title droughts as they gear up for the state match. Arlington Catholic went unbeaten within the Catholic Central League for its first crown since 2008. Studying received its first Middlesex League Liberty title since 2014, and Dracut/Tyngsboro dethroned four-time reigning champion Methuen within the MVC/DCL 3 race.
Free pucks
The final set of MIAA energy rankings can be launched Tuesday earlier than the common season cutoff on Thursday. Event pairings can be launched Saturday at 10 a.m. … With Canton’s win over Tewksbury within the Ed Burns Espresso Pot Event, there aren’t any extra unbeaten groups in MIAA boys hockey. Nauset’s 24-0-1 run to the Div. 3 state title stays the one unbeaten season within the energy rankings period.
