All RSS feed content is owned by the respective 3rd party website.
With a last-minute 1-0 win over Wellesley at Northeastern University’s Matthews Arena on Wednesday night, the Austin Prep girls’ hockey put the program’s past, present and future on display.
Senior Kara Cecchini broke the scoreless stalemate with just 48.5 seconds remaining, driving in a shot from classmate Lauren Barry after a scramble in front of the net to give the Cougars their first win of the season over the defending Division 2 state champions, which improved AP’s all-time record vs. Wellesley to 5-0.
“It’s a push right to the end,” said Cecchini, a Burlington resident. “You’re going as hard as you possibly can to score a goal in a matter of seconds. You’ve just got to keep pushing to the end and it will come.”
The neutral-site game was organized by Austin Prep, the home team for the contest. Both of Austin Prep’s coaches are Northeastern women’s hockey alumnae – head coach Stephanie Wood was a three-year letterwinner from 2002-05 and later served as the program’s director of hockey operations, and assistant Nikki Petrich played from 2004-08.
“We wanted to do something unique and special for the team,” Wood said. “We have a lot of great memories in this place. It’s great for both teams to play a game on a college campus, so it was a really unique thing.”
For the first time in several years, Austin Prep (1-0-1) has a new face in goal, after having relied on goaltending from Southern Maine freshman Hannah Aveni for the past three seasons, and UMass Boston’s Caty Flagg prior to that. For the second time this season, it was sophomore Lauryn Hanafin who earned the nod in net. The Wilmington resident made 23 saves to secure the shutout.
Wellesley dominated most of the first period, largely due to the efforts of senior blue-liner Erin Fleming, who not only broke up plays as they neared goalie Liddy Schulz (12 saves), but kept the puck on the Raiders’ side of the ice for most of the period.
“Wellesley is just a fantastic team,” Wood said. “They’re always one of the top teams in the state. Tonight was just a great game. It was really exciting.”
Opportunities for the Cougars returned in the later frames, with the Raiders playing shorthanded on four separate occasions, including a call that lingered 44 seconds into the third frame, but to no avail.
Fleming starred again, helping to kill both penalties as well as a five-on-three opportunity for AP to keep it 0-0. A chippy third frame saw AP senior Frankie Frelick earn a game disqualification with 15 minutes left to play, for checking from behind on Wellesley’s Danielle Cimino, who fell to the ice but skated off unassisted. Frelick, an All-Scholastic defender, will sit out two games for the hit.
“That’s unfortunate there,” Wood said of the call on Frelick. “But we’re lucky we have a lot of depth. She’s a huge loss, obviously, but we have enough depth that we can move kids around. It’s really great. We’re seeing a lot of people step up now in different roles.”
Lexington 4, Wakefield 0 — After playing forward for three seasons, Lilia Dawson has shifted to goaltender for the Minutemen (2-0) and recorded her first career shutout. On the offensive end, freshman Shea Freta scored two goals in the win.
Brooks 5, Berwick 0 — Carly Stefanini netted a hat trick for the Bishops (5-1-1).
Canton 7, Stoughton 0 — Senior Kaitlyn McLaughlin scored her first career varsity goal for the Bulldogs (3-0).
Falmouth 3, Martha’s Vineyard 0 — Sam McKenzie’s pair of goals helped the Clippers open the season with a win.
Masconomet 2, Beverly 1 — Junior Erin Irons scored the winner early in the third period to lift the Chieftains (2-0).
Westwood 4, Medway/Ashland 2 — Hannah Blomquist’s two goals and two assists were the difference for the Wolverines (3-0-0).
Dennis-Yarmouth 11, Nantucket 2 — Phoebe Holmes scored four goals for the Dolphins (2-0).
Braintree 5, Milton 0 — Senior Ally Decoste scored three goals for the Wamps (2-0).
Norwell 5, Whitman-Hanson/Silver Lake 1 — Casey Ward and Casey Messina each notched their 100th career points for the Clippers.
Ursuline 3, Arlington Catholic 1 — Senior Bridget Popkin had a pair of goals for the Bears (3-0).
Needham 6, Walpole 1 — Sophomore Britt Nawrocki scored four goals and junior Kenzie Kelly made 23 saves to lead the Rockets (2-0).
Peabody 5, Marblehead 0 — Sammie Mirasolo scored the opening goal for her 100th career point to lead the Tanners (1-1).
Boys’ hockey
Arlington Catholic 4, Mount St. Charles (R.I.) 2 — Thomas Milne scored a pair of goals to lead the Cougars (1-1-0).
Bedford 2, Watertown 0 — Senior captain James Demeo scored both goals to lead the Buccaneers (1-0-1).
Concord-Carlisle 4, Lowell 2 — Connor Trant netted a hat trick to spark the Patriots (1-1-0).
Dennis-Yarmouth 7, Wareham/Carver 3 — Mason Sheehan made 32 saves to carry the Dolphins (1-1-0).
Dracut/Tyngsborough 3, Newton South 1 — Caulin Martel made 39 saves to backbone Dracut/Tyngsboro (2-0-0).
Duxbury 4, Quincy 0 — Goals from four different players helped the defending Division 1 champion Dragons open their season with a win.
Holliston 2, Dover-Sherborn/Weston 0 — Cooper DeCristofaro and Robby Saponaro each scored as the Panthers (1-1) rolled to their first win of the season.
Marblehead 6, Peabody 2 — The Headers (2-0-0) had six different scorers, led by Colin Hart and Eli Feingold with a goal and assist apiece.
Nauset 2, Stoughton/Brockton 0 — Payton Kender and Cam Viprino each scored as the Warriors (1-0-1) earned their first win of the season.
Plymouth South 4, Scituate 3 — Nick Ferrell netted the game-winning goal for the Panthers (2-1-0).
Sandwich 5, Taunton 3 — Max Slicer’s two goals were the difference for the Blue Knights (1-2-0).
Swampscott 4, Beverly 2 — Drew Olivieri’s hat trick sparked the Big Blue (2-0-0).
Walpole 3, Needham 1 — Charlie Warley had a pair of assists for the Rebels (2-0-0), who got goals from three different players.
Masconomet 2, Lynnfield 1 — Junior Aaron Zenus scored the winning goal on the power play for the Chieftains (2-0) 42 seconds into the third period.
Boston Latin 4, North Andover 1 — Sam Hutchinson scored the tiebreaking goal with 55 seconds left, and the Wolfpack added a pair of empty-net goals to prevail in their season opener.
Norwell 2, Rockland 0 — Timmy Ward scored his first varsity goal to lead the Clippers (1-0-1). Harry Reed also scored and Sean Ennis earned the shutout.
Southeastern/B-P/WB 5, Blue Hills 1 — Matt Lavoie and Kurt Heath had a goal and assist, and Ryan LeBaron made 21 saves in his first varsity start as the Hawks won their season opener.
Boys’ basketball
Billerica 63, Haverhill 56 — Senior Ryan Murphy led the Indians (2-0) with 33 points and 14 rebounds.
Franklin 63, King Philip 45 — Seniors Chris Edgehill (19 points) and Jack Rudolph (14 points) led the Panthers (2-0) to the Hockomock League victory.
Marshfield 52, Weymouth 44 — Senior Mike Walsh scored 10 points to help the Rams earn the season-opening victory.
Monomoy 69, Rising Tide Charter 20 — Junior Aidan Melton poured in 22 points for the Sharks.
North Reading 64, Amesbury 54 — In a season opening win, the Hornets (1-0) were led by junior captain Will Taylor (19 points) and sophomore Cody Cannalonga (17 points).
Oliver Ames 64, Taunton 63
— Senior guard Jay Spillane (16 points) drained a 3-pointer with eight seconds remaining to give the Tigers (2-0) their first lead of the game and the win. Junior guard Amari Brown added 19 points.
Scituate 73, Southeastern 34 — Senior captain Jack Poirier paced the Sailors (2-0) with 34 points.
Snowden 54, Malden 49 — Strong performances from senior guard Richie Capellan (17 points) and sophomore guard Omari Brooks (8 points, 6 assists, 5 steals) lifted the Cougars to the season-opening win.
South Shore Voc-Tech 57, Norfolk Aggie 19 — Brian McClain (13 points) and Jerome Overstreet (10 points) led the way for the Vikings (2-0).
St. George’s 81, Tabor 43 — George Mason commit Tyler Kolek scored his 2,000th career point for the Dragons in the victory.
Triton 68, Georgetown 53 — Senior Michael Farago scored a career-high 19 points for the visiting Vikings (1-1).
Worcester Academy 75, Lawrence Academy 64 — Junior Jhamyl Fricas led the way with 17 points for the Hilltoppers.
Stoughton 72, North Attleborough 43 — Myles Grigalunas-Powell led the Black Knights with 20 points.
Marshfield 52, Weymouth 44 — Senior Mike Walsh scored 10 points to help the Rams earn the season-opening victory.
BC High 80, Brockton 67 — Sophomore Mike Loughnane scored 24 points while senior Korey Reynolds added 17 points and grabbed 13 rebounds for the Eagles (1-0).
Catholic Memorial 97, St. Peter-Marian 59 — Junior Kurtis Henderson scored 39 points for the Knights (2-0).
Girls’ basketball
Abington 52, Scituate 51 — Senior Lauren Keleher collected 18 points and 15 rebounds as the Green Wave (1-1) squeaked by the Sailors.
Amesbury 51, North Reading 37 — Senior Alli Napoli’s 18 points led the Indians (2-0)
Arlington 43, Melrose 33 — Claire Ewen, Ava Connolly and Diane Wicks all scored in double figures for the Spy Ponders (1-1).
Beaver Country Day 76, Berwick 30 — Sophomore Oralye Keifer scored a game-high 21 points as the Beavers won their third straight to start the season.
Bishop Feehan 67, North Kingstown (R.I.) 45 — Sophomore Haley Coupal netted 22 points for the Shamrocks (2-0).
Blue Hills 48, Upper Cape 28 — Seniors Jamillia Ross (15 points) and Neissa Louis (14 points) led the way for the Warriors (1-1).
Brooks 75, Groton 62 — Sophomore forward Samantha Dewey scored 31 points for the Bishops.
Burke 50, Madison Park 34 — Freshman Zylise Bell tallied a double-double with 21 points and 11 rebounds. Deja Bonner added 18 points and 9 rebounds for the Bulldogs (3-0).
Dennis-Yarmouth 41, Cape Cod Academy 37 — The Dolphins (3-0) were led by freshman Grace Presswood’s 17 points and 7 rebounds.
Dover-Sherborn 60, Bellingham 28 — Sophie Fallon netted 17 points as the Raiders (1-1) cruised.
Fairhaven 45, Bishop Connolly 19 — Balanced scoring from Allyson Gamache (11 points), Cassandra Savery (8 points) and Ariana Bucha (7 points) led the Blue Devils (1-2).
Franklin 80, King Philip 50 — Senior forward Ali Brigham led the Panthers (2-0) with 25 points while sophomore Olivia Quinn scored 20 points.
Marshfield 39, Sandwich 23 — Freshman Taylor Brilliant tallied 19 points to propel the Rams (1-1).
Needham 44, Walpole 28 — Junior forward Caroline Klemm’s double-double (16 points, 12 rebounds) lifted the Rockets (2-0).
Triton 56, Georgetown 30 — Caitlin White poured in a career-high 23 points as the Vikings (1-1) rolled.
Westford 64, Waltham 23 — Senior guard Ally Giovino scored 17 points to lead the Grey Ghosts (2-1).
Oliver Ames 74, Taunton 51 — Kelsey Yelle scored 16 points and Caroline Flynn added 15 points and 10 assists as the host Tigers (2-0) picked up a Hockomock League win.
Belmont 58, Wilmington 54 — Nina Minicozzi had 32 points and 10 rebounds as the Marauders picked up a double-overtime victory.
Boys’ swimming
Algonquin 88, Grafton 36 — The Tomahawks (2-0) were led by junior Will Saulnier, who qualified for sectionals with wins in the 200-yard individual medley and 100 freestyle. Senior James Carroll also was a double winner, taking home the 200 and 500 freestyle.
Girls’ swimming
Algonquin 88, Grafton 36 — The Tomahawks (2-0) dominated behind a 250.95 score from senior Lizzie Meschisen in the 1-meter dive.
To report scores, call 617-929-2860/3235 or email hs******@***be.com.