Canton overpowers Ursuline in Div. 2 girls hockey tourney

There was a wide disparity in postseason pedigrees in Wednesday night’s Division 2 girls hockey quarterfinal between Canton and Ursuline Academy as the third-seeded Bulldogs are aiming for a third championship game appearance in the last four years while the No. 6 Bears had won just one tournament game as program prior to this winter.

But it was a pair of freshmen with precious little postseason experience that rose to the occasion for Canton as dazzling defender Olivia Maffeo scored four times and goaltender Carolyn Durand stopped all 21 shots she saw in a 5-0 win at Warrior Arena.

“They don’t play like freshmen,” said Canton coach Dennis Aldrich. “They really don’t.”

The Bulldogs (18-1-4) advance to the semifinals on Sunday to face the winner of Friday’s contest between No. 2 Norwell and No. 7 Notre Dame (H). Ursuline finishes 14-4-4, the best mark in school history.

Aldrich thought his team’s depth was able to wear the Bears down, which was apparent when Maffeo struck three times inside the final minute of the first two periods.

Maffeo cut into the slot and sniped one under the bar with 56.9 left in the first to stake the Bulldogs to a 1-0 lead after one. With 59.8 to go in the second, she buried a shot from the left circle on the power play, and then was back at it 17 seconds later for the 3-0 lead.

Just 1:04 into the third, she had her fourth of the game and 32nd of the season, ripping one inside the far post.

“I didn’t expect to have four goals,” said a humble Maffeo, who also had a quartet early this year against Hingham, “I just wanted to get shots on and I was lucky enough to get them.”

“She is not bad.” joked Aldrich. “I’d give her the puck but I have to save some for practice.”

Tess Koury added another with 2:02 to play while Durand, who has been battling the flu this week, made 10 saves in the final period to stamp her 14th shutout.

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