Austin Prep girls hand Braintree first loss behind Hanafin’s 23 saves

By now, Austin Prep is used to its opponents circling the Cougars on their schedule. But Braintree had more reason than most to highlight Wednesday’s matchup: the Cougars defeated the Wamps in last year’s Division 1 quarterfinal.

And despite falling behind, Austin Prep didn’t let Braintree carry out its revenge as sophomore goalie Lauryn Hanafin made 23 saves and Monique Lyons netted the game-winner with 3:20 left to knock the Wamps from the ranks of the unbeaten with a hard-fought 2-1 nonleague win at Zapustas Arena.

Austin Prep soph. goalie Lauryn Hanafin delivered with stellar play by making 10 of her 23 saves in 3rd period, including stopping a breakaway bid.

“(Hanafin) is starting to play really (like) a veteran in really high pressure, clutch situations. She was huge for us at the end.” pic.twitter.com/DQItavGKVn

— Greg Dudek (@gdudek10) January 30, 2020

“Our team has done a really good job this season of being resilient,” said Austin Prep coach Stephanie Wood. “Even if we get scored on first, we keep our composure. I’m really proud of them of how they came back.”

In a physical battle, Braintree (12-1-1) struck first, 5:30 into the second period, when Abby Holland beat a diving Austin Prep (9-1-2) defender before tucking her shot past Hanafin.

Penalties ended up costing the Wamps, as the Cougars leveled the score later in the frame on the power play with Kara Cecchini putting in a rebound off Francesca Frelick’s initial shot.

“We’re notorious for penalties, but against a really good, puck-moving team, you can’t do it,” said Braintree coach Kevin Burchill.

While Isabel Hulse found Lyons in front for her clutch goal that required a second effort, Hanafin also stepped up during the game’s most critical juncture.

Hanafin stopped a Holland breakaway bid earlier in the third period before making three saves on Braintree’s power play that came in the final two minutes before the Wamps lost the key opportunity when they committed a penalty with 60 seconds left.

“(Hanafin) is starting to play really (like) a veteran in really high pressure, clutch situations,” Wood said. “She was huge for us at the end.”

from Boston Herald https://ift.tt/2GAhRt3