Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | Final |
---|---|---|---|---|
Longmeadow | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
Methuen | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
BOURNE — Junior Kelly Golini had the hat trick and freshman Kaia Hollingsworth made a brilliant late save at Methuen-Tewksbury shaded Longmeadow, 3-2, in the Division 2 state quarterfinals.
Golini netted the game-winner for the No. 4 Red Rangers (19-1-3) 3:44 into the second period.
Coach Sarah Oteri said the Tewksbury High student had a brilliant all-around game.
She said, “Kelly does a great job scoring. She got the hat trick but made a lot of plays backchecking and pokechecking, too. The effort in all three zones was there.”
Her heroics may have gone for naught if not for the Methuen High frosh keeper, who finished with 29 saves .
Oteri remarked, “Kaia had a huge save at the end. It was phenomenal. She was kind of sliding across the net and it was a quick glove save with under 1:30 left.”
The coach added, “Freshman Brenna Greene had a strong game on defense. A lot of the Longmeadow girls are pretty skilled and she played them hard. Freshman Lydia Pendleton was strong backchecking.”
No. 12 Longmeadow finishes up at 13-6-1.
Wednesday at 5:15 p.m. back here at the Gallo Arena, the Red Rangers will face their biggest challenge of the season. In the state semis they take on 20-0-1 Notre Dame-Hingham, the defending Division 2 state champions.
Last year Methuen-Tewksbury beat Longmeadow then in the next round was whipped in the quarterfinals by NDA-Hingham 8-2.
Oteri said of NDA, “They have beat the Division 1 top dogs this year. It will be a battle.”
RUGGED RED RANGERS
The fifth-year Methuen-Tewksbury program has always been top notch.
Year Record Round
2016-17 19-1-3 State semis
2015-16 17-2-3 State quarterfinals
2014-15 15-4-1 State quarterfinals
2013-14 19-2-0 First Round
2012-13 11-8-3 State semis
Note: In Division 2, it is just one bracket, not the traditional North, South, Central and West.
Division 2 state quarterfinals
Goals: M-T — Kelly Golini 3; L — Kara-Lyn Jones, Bridgitte Goler
Assists: M-T — Lydia Pendleton, Carolyn Curley, Kaylen Taddia; L — Madison Pelletier, Katelyn Joyal
Saves: M-T — Kaia Hollingsworth 29; L — Kayla Brown 23
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