By Avonlea Cummings
Hometown Weekly Sports Reporter
The 10th-seeded Westwood Wolverines girls hockey team faced off against the 23rd-seeded Woburn Tanners in their first playoff competition of the post-season. The round of 32 game was full of excitement, and energy as the Westwood girls propelled into a strong early lead throughout the first period that secured them a 4-0 win.
In the first period, the Wolverines were quick and snappy on the ice as Kate Sullivan raced down into Westwood’s offensive zone with Abigail Presley and Maggie Ash. In the blink of an eye and only 21 seconds into the period, Sullivan launched the puck past Woburn’s goalie and slammed in the first goal of the night. The crowd was elastic with the early lead for the Wolverines. The girls continued to control the puck in their offensive zone, and with over ten minutes into the period, Westwood earned themselves a power-play.
Working around the net with rapid passes across the ice, the Wolverines were ready to pounce on Woburn once more. Senior captain Tessa Jones received a pass from Maggie Ash and Ava Themistocles and took the puck onto her stick. In one motion, Jones ripped the puck once more and tallied on another point for the Wolverines making their lead 2-0. The Westwood girls were finished yet in the period as they continued to test Woburn’s defense. At 3:52 left to go in the period, Kate Sullivan swiped a pass to Maggie Ash, and Ash sunk in the puck for the Wolverines once again closing the period 3-0.
The second period presented a new challenge for the Wolverines as Westwood’s freshman goalie Jennifer Lin faced one one-on-one against a Woburn player. During this penalty shot, Lin was poised and focused, she denied Woburn’s chance to score all on her own which led to a scoreless period.
As the girls continued into the third period, the Wolverines pounded their shots onto the net but Woburn blocked their attempts. Both teams skated back and forth on the ice, and the third period was looking to be quiet in the net. However, as the game time narrowed with just over a minute left to the game, Westwood’s Fallon Campbell flung the puck once more into the back of Woburn’s net. Fans erupted in cheers celebrating the Wolverines' victorious shutout, and the girls closed the night 4-0.
Head coach Lauren Hillberg shared the girls’ growth of confidence in shooting throughout the season leading them to their early on goals in the first period.
“Throughout the season we have improved drastically with shots and shooting to score, I think just constantly practicing this and talking about it as a team, they just became confident in themselves to shoot with intent. Getting those three goals in the first period just proved to them that when they apply what they practice, the outcome goes in their favor,” said Hillberg.
Coach Hillberg also highlight Jennifer Lin’s performance on the ice in her first post-season competition.
“As a Freshman, Jennifer has stepped up big time this year. In her first tournament appearance to have a shutout is a great accomplishment, she just knows how to lock in to a game and be ready for anything that comes to her. Jennifer also has some great Defense and Offense to surround her, which is always a big help as well,” said Hillberg.
