Lexington Girls' Hockey Team Advances To Quarterfinals With 5-1 Win

Playoff hockey has a notch or two higher intensity than the regular season, requiring a team to maximize its scoring opportunities. That wasn't a problem for the No. 7 girls' hockey team, which racked up goals en route to a 5-1 win over No. 10 Watertown-Melrose on Saturday.

The win came in the first round of the MIAA Division 1 tournament, and the Minutemen improve to 15-2-4. They'll advance to the quarterfinals to take on No. 2 Woburn. With the defeat, the Raiders' season ends at 15-3-5. 

The first period was abounding with Raider scoring opportunities as Watertown-Melrose continuously crowded in front of the net. But W-M’s best chance came as junior forward Erika Kelly slid a pass cross-ice to Lauren Giordano, who was on the right side of an open net. But the junior forward’s shot missed the mark.

Where the Raiders failed to capitalize, the Minutemen took full advantage as sophomore forward Sara Lehman netted a goal near the halfway point of the period giving Lexington the 1-0 lead. Junior forward Nicole Maher was credited with the assist.

To start the second period, the Raiders’ offensive prospects were once again there, but as in the first, they could not find the back of the net. One came with a scrum in front of the crease, while another happened as Kelly brought the puck down the right side, maneuvered around her defender, but shot wide right.

The Minutemen doubled their lead halfway through the second on a highlight-reel shot as junior Katy DelGreco skated from the left to right side, then blasted the puck from near the circle beating Raider goalie Simone Bailey glove side.

But the Raiders fought back into the game minutes later when Kelly, who had a night with exceptionally speed and stick handling, tallied a goal cutting the deficit to 2-1.

If the Raiders had any thoughts of a comeback, those were dashed at the 2:12 mark as Maher forehand shot was saved, but she collected her own rebound, and backhanded the puck in the left side. That gave the Minutemen the 3-1 lead.

“I think we settled down nicely and were able to pick it up,” said Lexington head coach Amanda Ciarletta. “I think we really started to get into our game as the second and third periods came on.”  

In the third period, Maher would go on to score her second and third goals earning a hat trick.

“She did awesome,” said Ciarletta. “Over the last couple weeks, she has really come into her own and really stepped up her game.”