Needham Girls Hockey Unlucky in State Final

Originally published March 19, 2017

BOSTON, MA — It was as unlucky as a day could get on the ice for the Needham girls hockey team. With five posts rung and three no goal announcements, players could not be blamed for slamming their sticks on the ice after hearing “no goal” in the third period of the Division 1 State Championship at the TD Garden.

The top-ranked girls fell to third-seeded Woburn 3-0, dropping their first game of the year.

A pair of Tanner goals came in the opening frame when Georgie Santullo lost the puck behind the net and Maddie Russo recovered at the top of the crease for the game’s opening score with 8:44 left in the first. About four minutes later, Cassidy Connolly capitalized on the rebound off of Kaitlyn Delaney’s initial shot.
Russo picked up her second goal with 11:14 in the second from the right dot.

On the Needham side, frustration began to build as the team made it to the Woburn doorstep but find a way in. Elizabeth Hernberg had a couple of opportunities in the second, splitting the defenders but hitting the post with 9:30 left. Later in the period, Hernberg almost got away with a shorthanded opportunity, but let the puck get away from her.

A pair of Needham attempts were called off in the third period before Hernberg scored Needham’s only goal of the game with 1:25 remaining. Elizabeth Phalen was credited with the assist.

Needham ends the season with a record of 22-1-1 while Woburn sits at 20-2-2.

Image Credit: @WoburnYearbook