NORTH ANDOVER – The Austin Prep women hockey group is now one win away from making the journey to the TD Backyard that it by no means obtained the likelihood to make two years in the past.
The Cougars superior to the state semifinals with a 4-0 quarterfinal victory over the Haverhill/Pentucket/North Andover co-op squad on Saturday at Merrimack Faculty’s Lawler Rink.
Austin Prep (23-0) will play Acton-Boxboro within the Division 1 state semifinals.
In 2020, the Cougars superior to the state remaining however didn’t get to play that sport as a result of it, together with all others that yr, was canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We actually needed to get again,” stated Austin Prep senior goalie Lauryn Hanafin, who made 21 saves for her nineteenth shutout of the season. “After having it taken away from us then, we actually needed to get again.”
HPNA completed its season at 10-9-2. The Hillies misplaced to Austin Prep, 2-0 on Feb. 21.
“We knew this could be a troublesome sport,” stated Austin Prep coach Stephanie Wooden. “We knew they’ve a very good goalie and once you get to the match each group you play is sweet.”
Austin Prep took the early lead with 9:30 left within the first interval when Isabel Hulse scored a shorthanded aim. McKenzie Cerrato stole the puck behind the HPNA internet and made a brief cross to Hulse, who slipped the puck contained in the left submit.
Cerato scored a short-handed aim with 3:35 left within the second interval. Simply 10 seconds after Maeve Carey went to the penalty field for interference, Cerato stole the puck within the defensive zone and raced the size of the ice for the aim, giving the Cougars a 3-0 lead.
“We do quite a lot of that,” stated Wooden. “Once we’re shorthanded it provides an opportunity for our forwards to get into open house and use their velocity. We’ve some quick forwards like McKenzie Cerrato they usually do properly in these conditions.””
Kathryn Karo scored Austin’s second aim with 4:58 left within the second. After HPNA goalie Julianna Taylor stopped an preliminary shot from Madison Vittands, Karo put the puck into the highest proper nook.
Karo scored the Cougars’ remaining aim with 2:04 left within the sport. She tipped within the puck from simply exterior the crease. Cerrato and Vittands picked up the assists.
“There’s a lot emotion,” stated Karo, who picked up her 2 hundredth profession level throughout the sport. “I’ve to present quite a lot of credit score to the coaches and my linemates. It’s simply a lot enjoyable and that’s the entire level.”
Taylor made 21 saves for HPNA.