KINGSTON, Mass. — King Philip bent but didn't break.
The Warriors clung to a one-goal lead as Duxbury generated all kinds of pressure in the third period.
As Kiki Lynch stood tall in the crease, Annabelle Curran delivered the knockout punch, winning the puck in the defensive zone and sending it the length of the rink and into the empty net.
Duxbury got one back with Alannah Gallagher's second of the game with five seconds left in regulation, but it was no use as KP took a 3-2 win.
Tayla McDuff also scored for the Warriors (13-2-1), while Curran had two. Lynch finished with 29 saves.
Brooklyn Metzler was in net for the No. 5 Dragons (12-5-1).
Gallagher opened the scoring in the first when her shot from the point went bar-down after changing directions in front.
Curran answered on a breakaway midway through the second period, beating Metzler over the glove. McDuff made it 2-1, cleaning up a loose puck in the crease on the power play in the closing moments of the period.
Let's dive into 12 standouts and takeaways from the MIAA clash.
Annabelle Curran
King Phillip, Class of 2028, F, left shot
Curran was terrific offensively all game, finding open space in the offensive zone and creating offense off the rush. She was difficult to contain and consistently put the defense on its heels. Her breakaway goal was a thing of beauty, going off to the races after blocking Abby Carter's shot at the point and beating Metzler with a quick wrister. The sophomore set up a Grade-A look for Ella Morgan in the first. Curran won a 50/50 puck at the point and sped the other way in a 2-on-1, feeding Morgan at the right circle. Curran also helped set up McDuff's goal, intercepting a clearing attempt on the power play and driving in for the initial shot.
ELITE 8 FORECAST: Where do things stand in the girls prep playoff race in the final month?
Kiki Lynch
King Philip, Class of 2025, G, catches left
Lynch was phenomenal in the crease, and she had no chance on either goal. The senior made save after save in key moments, especially in the third period. She stood tall in scrambles around the net, including when she sprawled to deny Ella Towse on a wide-open look in front in the first. She made a good, aggressive play to poke check Ceci Tremante alone in the slot, and in the third, she stoned Addy Harrington as she drove to the right post with speed.
Brooklyn Metzler
Duxbury, Class of 2029, G, catches left
Metzler was just as good at the other end, even if she didn't see the same amount of action. The freshman was poised, even in pockets of heavy pressure in the first and second. She made a pair of key stops on Curran in the first, be it a one-timer in the slot or her top-shelf bid off the rush later on. In the second, Metzler denied Ella Morgan on a breakaway, as well as Stephanie Leblanc driving to the middle.
Alannah Gallagher
Duxbury, Class of 2026, D, left shot
Although a win would've been the icing on the cake, I'm sure scoring twice on her birthday felt good for Gallagher. She made strong plays with the puck for most of the game, especially in the first when she cut around a forechecker and took the space up the right wing for a clean exit. She got rewarded later in the period with a quick wrister that Lynch never saw after it ricocheted off a defender in front. Her second goal was practically identical. Gallagher also made some key defensive plays. In the first, she hustled back and beat Leblanc in a footrace, preventing a lane to the net and motoring the other way for a good shot. She also cut off Curran to prevent her from driving to the net on a partial break in the third.
READ MORE:Â How will going back to the Super 8 impact the MIAA tournaments?
Grace Lehan-Allen
King Philip, Class of 2026, D, right shot
Lehan-Allen was tough to play against in the defensive zone, especially on the penalty kill. She was physical down low, blocked shots and consistently broke up plays in the middle. She had a huge shot block in the second to deny Addy Harrington in the slot off a give-and-go from behind the net. Later, she and Lanie O'Shea broke up Harrington as she tried to split the defense off the rush.
Brooke Hanley
Duxbury, Class of 2029, F, right shot
Hanley made plays all game. She had good chemistry on a line with Harrington and Towse, was strong on her stick and was excellent working behind the net on the power play. She helped set up Gallagher's first goal when she kept the play alive along the boards and worked it out high. Hanley constantly worked pucks to the slot and facilitated some nice give-and-gos from behind the net on the advantage, including a golden look for Harrington in the second. In the third, the freshman got a nice look of her own when she dug the puck free out of a battle and took it to the crease.
Ella Towse
Duxbury, Class of 2029, F, right shot
Towse's speed gave KP fits. She won races all game, and she constantly clogged passing lanes on the forecheck and backcheck. She twice intercepted outlet passes as the F3 in the first period. Her speed also helped her on the penalty kill, especially as a solo forechecker. The freshman had as good a chance as any in a scramble in front, too, finding the loose puck and shoveling a shot that Lynch miraculously saved.
TEAM USA:Â Meet the New Englanders skating in the Olympics
Ella Morgan
King Philip, Class of 2027, F, right shot
Morgan should have had at least one goal in this one. She had Metzler beat on a 2-on-1 with Curran early on, wiring a wrister over the blocker that rang the crossbar. Morgan had a breakaway in the second, too, speeding into space after Leblanc intercepted a pass along the boards. Morgan lost the handle at the last second, though, making it an easier save for Metzler. She was critical to McDuff's goal, though, keeping the puck alive with a whack at the rebound in the scramble off Curran's initial shot.
Leftover thoughts...
- Give a lot of credit to Lehan-Allen and Emma Richard on the back end as KP defended the late 6-on-5 after Duxbury pulled the goalie. They forced skaters to the outside and broke up plays to the middle. It was a big defensive stand after the Warriors had already spent a ton of time in their own end in the third. Richard made simple, smart plays with the puck throughout the night and knew when to skate it herself.
- Duxbury's penalty kill gave KP absolutely nothing until McDuff's goal. The Dragons' defenders clogged lanes to the net. The biggest difference might've been how aggressive the forwards were out high and on the forecheck. In the defensive zone, they did a good job of closing on pucks quickly and taking away time and space. At the other end, Duxbury's speed and effort made it difficult for the Warriors to execute their power-play breakout cleanly.
- Talk about a bend, don't break effort for the Warriors in the third. KP came out flat early in the period, and it was all Duxbury. An early power play for the Dragons increased the pressure, but Lynch made some big stops on good looks in the slot. Harrington's line with Towse and Hanley generated pressure on every shift, and each was tough to contain. Lynch and the Warriors hung in there, though, and they got rewarded.
- What a massive win for King Philip, which has won two in a row to bounce back from a three-game winless skid. To go on the road and knock off a team like Duxbury is no joke. The Warriors were No. 6 in the last Division 2 power rankings, but a win like this will surely boost their standing. On the other hand, call it a learning experience for Duxbury, which led the last Div. 2 power rankings. It's easy to forget how young the Dragons are with how seamlessly they've integrated key freshmen. They'll respond.
