[ccfic caption-text format="plaintext"]
By Mike Flanagan
Hometown Weekly Sports Editor
The Needham High School varsity girls hockey team took to the ice at Babson Skating Center last Wednesday evening as the Rockets (12-5-2, 9-4-1) looked to bounce back from a 3-2 defeat to Braintree on February 8.
Just 38 seconds in, sophomore winger Maddie Ledbury fired home a wrist shot from between the hash marks to give Needham an early 1-0 lead. The Rockets carried the pace of play throughout the remainder of the period, but the score would remain 1-0 in favor of Needham at the end of one.
Just 2:40 into the second period, junior winger Caroline Han banked home a bank-hand from an odd angle along the near boards to double Needham’s lead to 2-0. The Rockets took their two-goal lead into the third.
Junior forward Grace Kelley (3) navigates the puck down low and feeds a pass out front during a second period power play.
With 8:39 remaining, sophomore forward Britt Nawrocki scored a beautiful coast-to-coast goal, taking the puck all the way up the ice and dancing her way through a series of Newton defenders before bursting in on a breakaway and depositing home a shot on her back-hand to put Needham ahead by three. The Rockets locked down the middle of the ice and made it nearly impossible for Newton to generate any offense. Needham preserved the shutout and prevailed by the 3-0 final.
At the time of print, the Rockets will travel to Pilgrim Arena in Hingham to face Duxbury on February 20 before finding out where they will be seeded in the Division I South playoffs.
For funny and insightful sports analysis as well as video highlights of games, follow Mike Flanagan on his personal Twitter and Instagram @flano0.
