Girls Hockey Team Wins Against Belmont

In their second match of the young season, 's Girls Hockey were outplayed, out shot and out skated by Belmont's Girls in an example of a better team showing their superiority on the ice.

But hockey is decided by which team puts the most pucks into the back of the net. And Concord-Carlisle did that better than Belmont Wednesday night, Dec. 15.

In the frigid Skip Viglirolo Rink in Belmont, the Patriots (2-0-0, 0-0-0) defeated the Marauders (o-1-o, 0-0-0) 3-1 despite being out shot by a whopping 24-9.

C-C's Jennifer Robinson continues her hot streak, scoring the go ahead goal in the third and an empty netter with seconds to play to give the junior forward five goals in the first two games of the season.

But the bulk of the praise for the victory was on the shoulders of defender Sarah Bagley and sophomore goaltender Michaela Haller. Haller gave up just one goal while sending the night sprawling to take pucks off the ice and sticking away shot after shot.

Bagley used her aggressiveness and speed to track down Belmont forwards as they attempted to stake a claim at the top of C-C's goal crease.

Lauren McAuliffe, who remains undefeated as a head coach, said her charges came out sloppy in the first period and outplayed in the second period.

"But at the start of the third, we started shooting at (Belmont's) net and was fortunate to be in the lead," said the former Harvard player of her young (only two seniors) team.

"Michaela (Haller) really came through for us, keeping us in the game," she noted.

"I hope this games sends a message and we start playing as a team," said Belmont's long-time coach Mark Haley.

"It's not youth hockey out there," said Haley. "You can't get away with playing like that at this level. In high school, all the lines have good players. There are no double runners out there."

But Belmont came out of the gate quick, scoring only 5 minutes into the game. Junior defender Courtney Winn kept a clearing pass in the C-C zone and fired to the net where Erin O'Donovan pushed the puck onto Caroline McCarthy stick to put it in the Patriot's net for a 1-0 score.

While Concord did strike into Marauder territory, lead by speedy junior Greta White, Belmont defenders junior Britta Marden and sophomore Christy Moore were stalwarts on the blue line, putting the puck back into the zone for Belmont's dominating first line of Simmie Steinberg, Alexandra Cellucci and goal scorer McCarthy.

But going against the play, Concord-Carlisle tied the game at 11:32 in the first.

The second period was total Belmont domination as the Patriots failed to have a shot on goal. One the other side of the ledger, Belmont's skaters were cycling behind the opponent's net finding teammates in front of the Haller. During the period, Belmont's Steinberg hit the post and twice Belmont forwards could not steer the
puck into an open net.

Concord-Carlisle came out for the final period with more of an offensive game plan yet Belmont's team speed continued to control the course of game.

But once again, the Patriots struck on a quick counter with Robinson shooting the puck past Belmont goaltender Caroline Marchetta with 5:41 left in the period.

Belmont responded by throwing everything at Haller, with their best chance coming when Cellucci's close in shot rang off Haller's mask and then grabbed a puck from forward Kendal Brown's stick.

Belmont removed Marchetta with a minute left for an extra skater but Robinson ended any chance for a Marauder comeback with an open netter.

Next up for Concord-Carlisle is their first league match against always powerful Acton-Boxborough Saturday in Bedford at 6 p.m. Belmont will be at Woburn for their initial league game also at 6 p.m. Saturday.