Andover, NH – A strong St. Paul’s team travels over to Proctor for a 3 pm Wednesday game. Katie Grady in net for Proctor and Paige MacPhee for St. Paul’s.
Early on in this game, St. Paul’s takes charge, not pinning in the Hornets, but Proctor does struggle early to generate chances. Three minutes in St. Paul’s takes to the power-play and puts good shots on goal, including one at the end that rings the bar, but the game stays scoreless. Grady sees a barrage of shots off a dominant shift for the Pelicans, but Tess Mulkerron is able to beat her with a shot from the high slot for the game’s first goal. The following shift, Maddy Allen dangles in and loses the puck in the slot, and Lucy Mallgrave rips one that misses wide, but Allen makes a great one-handed play, crashing the goal and scoring from behind the net to increase the lead to two. St. Paul’s was all over Proctor for all of the first, but with under four minutes, Proctor finally got there first grade A chance on goal by Bella Simeone, but a great save by MacPhee keeps it out. Shortly after the Pelicans find their third goal, started with a great pass by Madelyn Humber to Chelsea Bell in the slot, which is then kicked out to Erin Flaherty, who eventually puts it home. First period would end 3-0 in favor of St. Paul’s.
Proctor starts this period much better, but the Pelicans still get the first good chance on goal with a 2-on-1, and Liza Demain shoots it, but a good save by Grady. Emma Burke shows good vision, sliding a great pass over to Allen for a one-timer, but the save of the game so far for Grady keeps it out, and the game remains 3-0. Viltaute Jasineviciute had a strong second period, controlling the puck and generating chances and shots. At the end of Proctor’s first power play, St. Paul’s gets a breakaway, but a great play by Sage Fields keeps this second period scoreless. With under five minutes in the period, Jasineviciute steals the puck on the Pelicans’ point and is able to get on a semi-breakaway, and she finishes it upstairs blocker side to make this score 3-1. Flaherty shows good poise and playmaking ability, creating a scoring chance for MacPherson streaking into the slot, and she will finish, making the score 4-1 to end the second period.
The third period gives us more up-and-down hockey, with the pace of play increasing. Another goal and the fifth of the game, with Humber making another great pass to a moving MacPherson, who uses her quick hands to score again in tight. St. Paul’s gets on the powerplay and with around five minutes, Maggie Berleth finds a shot lane and snipes one high from the middle of the offensive zone point to extend the lead to 6-1. Final at Proctor, 6-1 in favor of St. Paul’s.
Three Stars
First: Maddy Humber (St. Paul’s)
Second: Kelsey MacPherson (St. Paul’s)
Third: Katie Grady (Proctor)
*Quick shoutout to the Proctor commentating crew and overall production. Excellent job.*