NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. — Brooks was on the brink.
After carrying the play in the second and erasing a one-goal deficit, Brooks was in search of a go-ahead strike against Lawrence Academy. Cassie Ling (Needham, Mass.) delivered.
Ling pounced on a turnover to the middle from the boards and cut toward the net, burying a wrister to give Brooks a lead with 12:41 to go in regulation.
They never looked back. Angela Fabbo (Peabody, Mass.) added insurance on a 5-on-3 power play with five minutes to go for the 3-1 final.
Charlie Roberto (Topsfield, Mass.) also scored for Brooks (4-10-0), cashing in on a power-play rebound in the second. Shelby Buckler (Sherborn, Mass.) and Natasha Godfrey (Scarborough, Maine) each had two assists. Ella Puleo (Newburyport, Mass.) backstopped the win with 23 saves.
Mairead Carey (Stow, Mass.) opened the scoring for the Spartans (3-9-0), sticking with her own rebound in tight. Keagan Gray (Canton, Mass.) made 32 saves.
Let's dive into 11 standouts from the game.
Cassie Ling
Brooks, 2010, F, right shot
Hometown: Needham, Mass.
Ling was at the center of everything for Brooks all game. She played a smart, solid 200-foot game and created chances on her line with Buckler and Godfrey. Ling had good awareness in the defensive zone, including in the first when she provided support down low before speeding up the middle on a well-executed breakout. She got rewarded with the go-ahead goal. After losing the face-off, Ling got to work as the F3 out high, flying into the lane as Buckler found her off the boards, cutting to the net and burying a wrister. It was the culmination of a strong game for her line.
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Isabel Previte
Brooks, Class of 2028, F, left shot
Hometown: Andover, Mass.
Previte was strong in all situations. Her line with Fabbo and Elsa Wood (Manchester-by-the-Sea, Mass.) was a thorn in the Spartans' side at 5-on-5, forechecking hard and getting pucks to the net. Previte did a great job quarterbacking the second power play, including one chance in the second when she walked the blue line to open a lane to the net, cut in and got a quality shot. It was one of a few strong shots for Previte. Earlier in the second, she prevented a goal on the penalty kill with a quick stick down low. She also had a fantastic setup for Fabbo on a 2-on-1 in the first, selling the shot before hitting Fabbo on the tape on the far side.
Natasha Godfrey
Brooks, 04/2009, F, right shot
Hometown: Scarborough, Maine
Godfrey's speed and skating were difference-makers for Brooks. It helped her lead the rush effectively and drive play in the offensive zone. It also came through on a couple of huge efforts on the backcheck, including one in the third when she flew back to lift Violet Safari's (Wayland, Mass.) stick on a 2-on-1. Godfrey prevented the chance and stole the puck before getting the play started the other way. She also had a terrific effort on a first-period power play, knocking a Spartan forward off the puck to prevent a shorthanded breakaway.
Mairead Carey
Lawrence Academy, Class of 2026, D, left shot, 5-8
Hometown: Stow, Mass.
NCAA: Richmond (field hockey)
Carey's opening goal was all about smarts and effort. Lawrence didn't get a clean entry, but Carey jumped into space on the far side, getting open for an entry pass and putting a hard shot on net as she drove into the zone. The rebound popped off the end boards right to the front of the net, and Carey was the first to it. She stuck with it in the scramble and buried a backhand inside the post. Carey also did a nice job at the top of the umbrella on the power play. She moved the puck quickly and kept her feet moving to open lanes.
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Charlie Roberto
Brooks, Class of 2027, F, left shot
Hometown: Topsfield, Mass.
Roberto gave Brooks something to show for their strong play in the second period, coming through with the equalizer. After Fabbo won the draw on the power play, Roberto went right to the net. Wood found Long at the right point for a wrister. The puck found Roberto in a battle, and she put it home. Earlier, Roberto did a hell of a job to protect the puck in a physical battle down low with Frias.
Shelby Buckler
Brooks, 2010 F, left shot
Hometown: Sherborn, Mass.
Buckler was confident with the puck, taking advantage of open ice in the attacking zone. She also drew a pair of tripping penalties. She set up a fantastic chance for Godfrey in front, driving to the middle from the boards and slipping a slick backhand feed to the doorstep. Buckler also took away time and space on the forecheck, causing turnovers. She did a good job of cutting off the winger along the boards ahead of Ling's call, winning the puck and slipping another backhand feed into space as Ling skated into it. Buckler also set up Fabbo's late goal with the initial shot from the right circle.
Ashley Long
Brooks, 11/22/2010, D, left shot, 5-4
Hometown: Boulder, Colo.
Long moved the puck effectively on the back end, including one rush in the first. She built speed curling around the net on a regroup and took a skating lane the length of the rink for a clean entry. It kick-started an extended offensive zone shift for Brooks. Long also had a good, quick shot from the point ahead of Roberto's goal. She wasted no time and kept it low for a rebound with Fabbo and Roberto battling in front.
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Angela Fabbo
Brooks, Class of 2027, F, left shot
Hometown: Peabody, Mass.
Fabbo did it all for Brooks. She battled hard in front of the net and made good decisions with the puck, keeping it simple in the defensive zone and finding the easy play. She had a terrific chance in the second, digging the puck free from a battle out high and getting to the slot for a shot. Gray made a nice save. Fabbo got rewarded with the insurance goal, going straight to the net after Godfrey won the face-off. Buckler put a shot on, and Fabbo was right there to jam in the rebound.
Ariya Tice
Lawrence Academy, Class of 2027, F, left shot
Hometown: Lancaster, Mass.
Tice was also a menace, playing with a speedy, high-compete game. Her quick feet and strength down low in the offensive zone helped her protect the puck and shake off defenders. She was also aggressive and physical on the penalty kill, especially in the third. Tice beat out an icing in the third as well to set up a solid shift for Lawrence, flying into the zone like a bat out of hell.
Avery Frias
Lawrence Academy, Class of 2029, D, left shot
Hometown: East Freetown, Mass.
Frias was hard to play against in the defensive zone, using her strength effectively in battles and getting in front of shots. Like Carey, Frias' quick decision-making on the power play helped open some things up for Lawrence. She had a good chance in the third, too. Frias made herself available on the far side during a regroup before taking the skating lane up ice. She cut between the dots and put a heavy shot on goal. Puleo made the save.
Emma Johnson
Lawrence Academy, Class of 2029, F, left shot
Hometown: Marblehead, Mass.
The Spartans' forwards were aggressive on the penalty kill, and Johnson was at the forefront of that. The freshman was a menace on the penalty kill, especially in the second period. She was quick at the point, taking away time and space from puck carriers. She forced turnovers and got clears.
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