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Lady Headers' Cinderella run ends in state semi's

Wednesday, March, 05 By Matt Williams
Staff writer

CANTON | The branding on Marblehead co-captain Tori Snow's electric blue hockey stick reads "Warrior." There isn't a better word to describe Snow and her teammates' near Herculean effort last night in the Division 2 state semifinals.

In spite of that relentless effort and a 6x4 advantage as time expired, the 12th seeded Lady Headers (12-8-2) couldn't penetrate the defense of undefeated and top-seeded Milton, falling 1-0 at Canton's Metropolis Rink.

"It's been great. This was one of the best teams we've ever had and we had a lot of fun," said senior co-captain Courtney Colantuno.

Marblehead's Cinderella run through the Division 2 bracket ends one win shy of the state championship game as they fell to Milton (17-0-3) for the third time this season.

"Every time we played them their defense did a really good job of shutting down our chances," said Lady Header coach Emily Hudak. "We didn't help ourselves by shooting high because that makes it easier on their goalie."

Snow and linemates Ashley White and Kathryn Homan were skating on nothing but guts and heart in the final minute as they barely came off the ice in the latter half of the third period. Milton killed a Lady Header power play with 5:19 to go and Snow drew another man advantage when she was hauled down at the blue line with 3:51 to go.

Hudak called a timeout to let her top line regroup and they came out again only to watch two doorstep chances get smothered by Wildcat goalie Anna Mandell (18 saves).

"(Tori) just keeps going. She's like the Energizer Bunny out there," said Hudak.

Yet another Milton penalty, coupled with pulled Lady Header goalie Moe Bradley, gave Marblehead a 6x4 edge in the final :39. The glass slipper simply didn't fit and they couldn't covert several chances, including a Snow breakaway.

All together, the Lady Headers finished the night 0 for 6 on the power play. The Wildcat defenders were simply too smart and too strong on the puck, allowing nary a Grade-A scoring chance.

"Overall we played a good game. (Milton) is number one and I wouldn't be surprised if they took this thing, without taking anything away from the other teams," said Hudak.

The Lady Headers say good-bye to a dynamite senior class that includes Snow, White, Colantuno, Taylor Callahan, Athena Simolaris and Mandy James. Members of the team since its inception when they were in eighth grade, the group has led Marblehead to the state tournament in each of the last three seasons and three total playoff wins.

"We're proud," said Colantuno. "We came together as a team and really bonded. There was no tension at all. We'll always remember these games."

Taking the team on the longest postseason run in the program's short history was a goal from the start and it's one the group made happen with dramatic, upset wins over Franklin and Canton in the tourney's early rounds.

"Our seniors knew coming in that this might be the last time they'd ever play hockey. They didn't want to have any regrets," Hudak said. "I think they'll look back on this season and be pleased with how they played."

Milton scored the game's only goal with 4:29 left in the first period. Shana Indelicato made a perfect centering pass from behind the net and Katie Higgins slapped it by Bradley to provide the only offense the Wildcats needed.

In a bizarre second period that saw the Lady Headers spend nearly six minutes on the power play and a lengthy delay when Courtney Maag injured her knee, Marblehead nearly knotted the score. Homan poked the puck into the cage, but the referee at the far end of the ice had blown the play dead because of a penalty and the score was waved off.

Later in the period, Milton drew a 5x3 power play. Snow, White and Homan were called on to kill it off and Bradley was at her best with a pair of point blank blocker stops. The sophomore netminder finished with 30 saves.

Snow had Marblehead's best scoring chance midway through the second. She streaked down the wing alone and wristed a shot that settled between Mandell's glove and the twine, narrowly missing the cage.

"One team has to win and one team has to lose," said Colantuno. "We played them well and I think we could've done it. I'm going to miss these girls."