After a first-round win over Waltham, falls to Andover 4-3
Published in the March 9, 2018 edition
By JENNIFER GENTILE
MELROSE—The sixth-seeded Melrose Lady Raider hockey team saw their season come to an end in a 4-3 upset by Andover in the second round of the Div. 1 state tournament on March 3 at Flynn Rink in Medford. But Melrose ends on a historical note: the first MHS girls hockey team to reach a 17 win season. The Lady Raiders finish the season 17-4-1, a remarkable, best-ever season for Melrose.
Andover (10-5-5) proved a team with both a deceiving record and seed (#22). Golden Warrior Emily Wagner netted 2 goals for Andover, including a game-winner in the second period.
“We’re proud of them,” said Melrose coach Sam Tetreau of the team. “This is the most winning season that Melrose has ever had. They should be proud of that.”
THE MELROSE Lady Raider hockey team went two rounds in postseason play before falling 4-3 to Andover on Sunday. Pictured is underclassman Emily Crovo on the hunt. (Donna Larsson photo)
The Lady Raiders had found the net first with a score by Maggie O’Donnell just two minutes into the game (on assists by Sam Kroon and Rachel DeFraia) Six minutes later the Golden Warriors struck back when Carrie Wiley scored to make it a 1-1 game at the end of the first. Just minutes later, Melrose’s Rachel DiFraia was fed an assist by Saorise Connolly and Emily Crovo for a goal that gave Melrose a brief lead of 2-1.
Andover flipped the game around in short time. They scored three, unanswered goals in five minutes during the second period behind the shooting of Allison Wright and two goals from Emily Wagner, who made it a 4-2 game with just minutes left in the period. Melrose fought hard in the third, with a frenzy of shots lobbed at goalie Sean D’Urso, while Melrose’s Courtney O’Connor at the net made some impressive saves that kept Andover scoreless in the period.
It was Melrose eighth grade star Emily Crovo who scored on an assist by Sam Kroon to make it a 4-3 game, keeping Melrose within striking distance with five minutes left in the contest. Unfortunately, a fierce offensive effort in the final minute came up empty for Melrose, who bowed out of the postseason.
After the game, coach Tetreau noted a call made a difference between a tie and loss. It was Andover’s shorthanded 4th goal, a matter contention for the coach. “I think the turning point [of game] was when we were on a power play and the refs didn’t call a trip on Jill [Mercer],” Tetreau said. “They ended up scoring off of that. So they trip her, they go down and score. I would completely put it on the no calls from the referees, which I normally wouldn’t do, but that was a huge shift in our game.”
It’s going to be tough saying goodbye to Melrose’s fine senior class. Many of these six have been with Tetreau since 8th grade. Graduating this year are seniors Saoirse Connolly, Rachel DiFraia, Sam Kroon, Jill Mercer, Emma Sikora and Grace Sikora.
“It was an amazing season for them,” the coach said. “I would love to get another senior class like that again. To get that depth, that hockey knowledge, talent, skill and passion for the game, I think it’s very rare to find that in that many kids. They definitely provided a lot of leadership on-and-off the ice, so they should be really proud.”
Tough skates to fill, indeed.
“It’s going to be hard,” Tetreau said. “They’re going to be big shoes to fill we’ll be lighter on numbers. We’ll still have Courtney O’Connor as our goalie, so that’s amazing. We’ll also have some rising stars stepping into leadership roles. We’ll just be a smaller bench then we’re used too.”
With the win, Andover (10-5-5) advanced to compete against third-rated Austin Prep in the Division 1 Quarterfinals Wednesday, and lost.
Win over Waltham advanced Melrose
Melrose had advanced to their game against Andover with a quality 2-1 victory over Waltham at Flynn Rink on February 28. Fans were treated to a walk-in surprise: an escort out of their locker room by a set of bagpipes that led them to the ice.
It wasn’t all music in the first period, however. Melrose and Waltham fought to a deadlock in the opening period. “The first period was tough,” says the coach. “We got a lot of shots but not quality ones.”
In the second period, Melrose was given a penalty at the seven-minute mark. But defenseman Rachel DiFraia scored a short-handed goal to put Melrose up, 1-0.
However, Waltham answered immediately and scored a goal on a power play which made it a 1-1 game. “After that, we picked up our game,” says Tetreau. “Our focus was to control the puck more and capitalize on the opportunities we created.”
Melrose’s Emily Crovo scored on an assist from Rachel DiFraia with five minutes left in the second to give Melrose a 2-1 lead they would not give up. Tetreau gave her shooters credit. “We had numerous opportunities to score but just were not finishing. We needed someone to put the puck in the net to help give us the momentum to win the game and Rachel and Emily did that for us.”
Melrose dominated for the rest of the game while Courtney O’Connor held Waltham scoreless.
It was a solid win for the coach. “Every player was engaged in the game and pushing each other to play their best.”
