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Tough schedule, seniors have Lady Headers optimistic with tournament on horizon

Monday, February, 25 By Matt Williams
Staff writer

For the six seniors on the Marblehead girls hockey team, tonight's Division 2 North state tourney contest against Franklin has been five years in the making.

Having played together since they were 8th graders when the team was founded, the seniors class has brought the program a long way - from a brand new club to a state tourney qualifier three straight years and the North Shore's top public program to be exact.

With that in mind, it's understandable that they'd be a bit emotional on the eve of what might be their final game in red and black.

"We've had the same core for five years; it's been a lot of fun to watch us grow up as players, people and friends," said Tori Snow, one of the team's senior captains. "It was already a little emotional at practice tonight. I've never played with anybody besides these girls."

Standing between the 13th seeded Lady Headers (10-7-2) is fourth seeded Franklin, an offensive powerhouse from the South Shore. The team features the state's third leading scorer in Rachel Porter (31 goals, 53 points).

But playing a tough team is nothing new for Marblehead. Of the team's seven losses, six came against one of the state's top 20 teams. All seven were to tournament teams including a pair of one-goal defeats against undefeated Milton, the tourney's top seed.

"We're going in with confidence and we know if we play the way we played against Milton we can play with anybody," said Snow. "Over the year, it was frustrating to play so many strong teams but looking back on it now we know we can keep up with them."

Perhaps the biggest asset for the Lady Headers is goaltender Moe Bradley and the defense. Bradley allowed more than two goals only twice all season against top competition.

"Moe was amazing and on defense we all worked together as a team. It's kind of a cliche but it is so much better when everyone's on the same page," said Courtney Colantuno, another of Marblehead's senior captains.

Assuming it'll be a tight, defensive oriented game (as it's been all year), the Lady Headers will need to find some offense. Snow is the team's best threat with 14 goals and 28 points while fellow senior Ashley White has 7 and 19 and senior Athena Simolaris has lit the lamp 7 times.

"We've really been working on trying to score," said Snow. "We heard that their goalie leaves rebounds, so we were working on those and little things like getting to the front of the net."

Though they have a potent power play unit, the Lady Headers have struggled to draw calls through out the season. Their ability to do so against Franklin could be the difference.

"It's kind of funny, I think some times we have the cycling and the passing down but we make an extra pass we don't need," said Colantuno. "We just need to keep the shots coming."

Marblehead might've netted a higher seed if their Senior Night game against Shawsheen hadn't been snowed out. But even that couldn't ruin the spirits of coach Emily Hudak's club.

"We went to the rink even though it was closed," said Snow. "We put the signs and the banners up | we had our own little thing."

With a 34-20-8 record, Hudak has guided the Lady Headers to the state tournament in each of her three years behind the bench. Last year, they downed Duxbury for the program's first ever postseason win | giving this year's club an added shot of confidence.

"The coaches have helped us a ton," said Colantuno. "Every year we set higher and higher goals.

This year, those goals include an upset win in round one on Franklin's turf and beyond. With five years of experience and a schedule that included the best of the best in 2007-08, the Lady Headers feel they have enough in the tank to do just that.

"I was thinking about our first tourney game (two years ago) and how we didn't know what to expect," recalled Colantuno. "Now, we know (Franklin) is good because girls hockey is so good. We have to go in confident and also to have some fun."

With the impending single elimination tourney on their minds, the girls had an even more simple message after practice last night.

"Everyone was like, 'No, this won't be the last one,'" Snow said.