Lady Mustangs Advance to Play Fontbonne in Semis

All year the Norwood girls hockey team had to step up - often finding themselves in low scoring games throughout the season and responding late to put themselves in a position to win.

Sunday afternoon was no different.

Led by Senior Ali Maloof who netted a breakaway goal and two assists in helping the Mustangs beat Sandwich, 4-1, who was riding the coattails of their defense and back-up goalie Brooke Clarkson.

The win puts Norwood on to a possible date at the TD Garden in Boston if they can get by Fontbonne in their next game, for the Division 2 semifinals.

“All year they stepped it up, they didn’t put their heads down, they did what they had to do, we told them in the second period you really have to step it up,” said Norwood coach Bill O’Donnell.

The Mustangs were out-shot 12-6 in the first period and 32-29 for the game against a Sandwich team that held Dedham to 18 shots on Friday night.

Sandwich got on the board first when Katherine O’Brien skated into the slot and got off a wrist shot that beat Norwood goalie Christina Frasca for the first score of the first period.

“They got a lot of shots,” commented O’Donnell.

The Mustangs answered back when center Maloof won the second of two face-offs in a row, found Hayley O’Rourke in the slot who placed a low snap shot in the corner to tie the game at 1-1.

Maloof told O’Rourke after winning the first face-off, which resulted in a shot to the pads of Clarkson, to be ready for the same play.

“Do the same exact thing, because I know we can get this one,” Maloof said she told O’Rourke, “She was ready for it.”

“Maloof is just a treasure to watch. She won two draws and it worked the second time. She is not only a phenomenal hockey player but she is a great person off the ice,” added O’Donnell.

The goal swung momentum Norwood’s way for the second period, as Frasca made a key stop on an O’Brien shot from point blank range to preserve the tie with 9:10 remaining in the second.

Jenny O’Donnell put home a loose puck in front of the net, which was created by a strong rush to the net by Maloof, to give the Mustangs a 2-1 lead.

Maloof added her first goal of the day on a breakaway move to beat Clarkson, to give the Mustangs a comfortable 3-1 lead with 12:47 remaining in the third.

“Heather (Folan) broke it out and got it out to Katie O’Brien, and Katie got it out to me and I took it, it was a nice pass,” said Maloof.

“She (Maloof) has been a great captain, always tries to include people,” said O’Donnell.

A late goal by Lisa Coskren secured the win and a date next week against a tougher tournament foe in Fontbonne.

“We got to play the way we can play, play as a team, and hopefully come out with a win,” said Maloof.