REGION – A pair of key goals coupled with a late game defensive stand helped the Algonquin co-op girls hockey team advance to the next round of the MIAA Division II state championship tournament on Thursday night.
The Titans beat Matignon on home ice by a score of 3-0, indeed securing that spot in the Round of 16.
“We knew Matignon was going to be a tough opponent,” head coach Mike Hodge told reporters after the win. “They play a tough schedule. They’re a real good team. Our girls executed well.”
Algonquin opened a 1-0 lead in the first period on a goal by Emily Johns.
Johns then doubled the lead in the second period with another goal.
The Titans held that advantage heading into the game’s final minutes before a high sticking call with 4:36 left on the clock put them on the penalty kill.
A penalty shot just over halfway through that penalty kill then gave Matignon an even stronger chance to mount a comeback.
“They took it to us a little in the third period, but Lana had a couple of big saves,” Hodge said, referencing goaltender Lana Pacific.
Pacific preserved her shutout through this game, stopping that penalty shot with a glove-side save.
Hodge noted the circumstances of the penalty shot within a shorthanded situation.
“It could have been 2-2,” he said of Mantignon’s comeback threat.
As Pacific settled in to make her decisive save, though, she came with fresh practice.
The team had specifically worked penalty shot scenarios in days prior, according to Hodge
“She had seen hundreds of them during the week,” Hodge said.
Altogether, he praised Pacific for her success, not only in this game, but in other recent appearances.
“She’s played solid all year like she always does,” Hodge said. “But I think her last three games have been the best she’s had all year.”
Outside of Pacific, Hodge spotlighted the performance of his defensemen and forwards on Thursday.
“[They] did a really nice job trying to prevent [Matignon] from getting high quality chances,” he said. “I was really proud of the way we had a total team defensive effort.
Mallory Farrell added Algonquin’s third and final goal as an empty net goal with just over a minute left in this game.
The Titans are now set to face Westwood in the next round of their tournament bracket.
The date and time of that game had not been announced as of Friday morning.
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