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There will be a new Division 1 girls hockey state championship team this year after St. Mary’s of Lynn (9-12-2), the 14th seed, was knocked off by Winchester (9-9-3), the 19th seed, 1-0 at Lynn’s Connery Rink on Tuesday night, Feb. 25, in a Round of 32 game.
A total of 33 teams makes up this year’s Division 1 playoffs.
The defending state champion Spartans gave up the game’s lone goal late in the second period. It was scored by Josie Chang assisted by Chloe Goldberg at the 14:41 mark.
“Our girls played amazingly well,” said Coach Tommy Scarpa right after the upset win. “(Goalie) Claire Zhang turned away all 26 St. Mary’s shots to help secure the shutout.”
The Red & Black, now in the Sweet 16, was awaiting the winner of the Malden Catholic (third seed, 14-2-4) / Westford Academy (30th seed, 2-17-1) Round of 32 game that was scheduled to take place on Wednesday night, Feb. 26, at the Valley Forum in Malden after press deadline.
The Winchester girls tied host Milton, 2-2, after getting shutout by Reading, 4-0 at Reading’s Burbank Arena to close out the regular season last week.
“We outplayed Reading all game, but made a few mistakes that cost us goals in each period (which ultimately was the reason for the loss). The fourth goal was an empty net goal.” said Scarpa. “We were pretty disciplined throughout the first two periods, but then ran into some penalty trouble in the third, because the puck just wasn’t finding the back of the net.
“I think more of trying too hard, and not being patient,” added Scarpa, “and the team was amazing against the Rockets. But good teams capitalize on other teams’ mistakes, and that’s just what happened here in this game.”
But proving they are also a good team, the Red & Black bounced back against Milton. They scored twice in the first period on goals by Clare McCabe and Clara Brennan, with assists going to Scarlett Gustafson and Cate Sheehan. But then unfortunately, they let Milton back into the game on a rare shorthanded goal.
“We ran into penalty trouble again – some deserving, some not so much – late in the third period to cost us a win. (Milton) tied it up pretty quickly, setting up overtime, where we had several chances, but couldn’t bury the puck,” said Scarpa. “Claire Zhang continued to play great in net. She just gives us a chance to win every game.”
Scarpa thought the team would have had more regular season wins, and it’s not because most of the losses were by one goal, but more so because he’s a first-year coach.
“They now know what I expect from them, and how to prepare for games,” he said. “I’m certainly not disappointed, because we played some great hockey throughout the majority of the season. We, as coaches, are getting everything that we can get from them, and now just need a little puck luck along the way.
“But I’m confident we will bring our A-game to the postseason,” added the first-year Winchester coach prior to the St. Mary’s game. “This team doesn’t know the meaning of the word quit. They will leave everything out on the ice come tournament time, and I’m sure of it. If we can find the back of the net, you’ll see a totally different team. They’ve worked incredibly hard this year, so I’m not worried no matter who we play.”
Scarpa’s postseason assessment proved to be accurate, much to the chagrin of the defending state champs, and now the Winchester girls are three games away from playing for the state title themselves at the TD Garden.
