Lady Mustangs Defeat Winchester, Advance to Quarter Finals

The Norwood girl’s hockey team avenged last year’s first round loss to the Winchester Sachems by beating the Sachems 4-1 in Canton yesterday afternoon.

Ali Maloof, who had two goals on the night, got the Mustangs on the board in the opening minutes by slapping home a loose puck in front of the net at the 13:32 mark of the first period.

Coach Bill O’Donnell utilized a different starting line-up in hopes of curtailing All-State forward and career hundred-goal scorer Michaela Chiuccariello of Winchester. Maloof, Jennny O’Donnell and Hayley O’Rourke started the game up front with defenseman Karen Colomey matched up with Chiuccariello’s line all through the game.

“We’ve been trying to balance the lines a lot at times. Actually each game, at times, we’ve had different lines,” O’Donnell said.

Chiuccariello made a backhand goal that beat Norwood’s Christina Frasca for the 1-1 tie at the 10:45 mark of the first.

Lisa Coskren found the net from a Taylor Donners pass to give the Mustangs a 2-1 lead in the second.

“Taylor was fighting for it in the corner, I was just backing her up right behind her, she popped out, (I) tried to get it on net-five hole,” said Coskren.

Norwood’s second line with Hayley O’Rourke (1 goal, 1 assist) tallied the third goal when she knocked home a loose puck in front of the net at 6:02 of the second.

"With Hayley, Ali, Emily (Kelly), Lisa and Taylor we’ve got balance, everyone is in the mode for doing it for the team,” said O’Donnell.

Winchester couldn’t capitalize on a late Norwood penalty after hitting the post.

“We wanted sustained offensive pressure, we told them you’ve got to get shots on net. They weren’t the prettiest shots but they went in,” commented O’Donnell.

Norwood’s Jenny O’Donnell neutralized Chiuccariello in the third, shadowing her wherever she went on the ice, and even drawing a roughing penalty on the frustrated star.

“They did a great job neutralizing her,” Winchester coach Tom Johnson said after the game.

Winchester will graduate five seniors and had a successful year according to their coach.

“Tough to repeat, really happy with how things progressed. I don’t know if a lot of people outside our locker room thought we would get back here this year,” said Johnson.

The Mustangs will advance to the second round next week.

“One game at a time, we’re taking it, but we want to go all the way,” Coskren said.