MARLBORO, Mass. — The Boston Jr. Eagles took down the East Coast Wizards, 3-0 to win the Mass. Hockey U19 Tier 1 championship on Sunday. The Eagles proved their worth with an all-around win, sending them to nationals, which take place April 2-7 in Wesley Chapel, Fla.
Eagles head coach Mark Wall knew his team was up to the challenge.
“Our last games were battles. We’re battle-tested," Wall said, noting their successes in the round-robin. "I thought we were ready to play a finals game. We left everything on the ice we could. We played our hearts out.”
And the matchup was a battle to start. It was a scoreless first period, with both teams feeling one another out. Nobles goalie and Brown commit Anya Zupkofska (Braintree, Mass.), anchored a strong defensive performance in net for the Eagles from start to finish. Completing the shutout, Zupkofska commended her defense’s performance.
“My team played really well in front of me, keeping few shots to get through from the point,” Zupkofska said. “They really helped out.”
After the game, Wall credited the defensive effort and complimented Zupkofska for her dominant performance in net.
“She was great. Our team defense is so good that they don’t need to make that many saves, but the saves they have to make are hard. And that’s what she did,” Wall said. “She’s going to Brown next year. She was recruited to go to a D-1 school for a reason. She’s a very good goalie and going to be a great college player.”
Midway through the second period, the Eagles got the scoring started. Tabor’s Grace Stirling took a nice feed and found the back of the net with a wrist shot.
Then, in the third period, a pair of goals from St. Paul’s forward Camryn Bell (Barre, Vt.) created an almost insurmountable lead in the low-scoring affair.
The Wizards did not go quietly, mustering a few chances late in the third. Still, they couldn't match the offense of the Eagles down the stretch when their lead widened.
As the final horn sounded, the Eagles rejoiced and celebrated their hard-fought win. After the game, Zupkofska gave credit to her opponents and looked ahead to their next challenge: nationals.
“It feels good to win this game, especially 3-0,” Zupkofska said. “It’s a big win against the Wizards who are a really good team. Just excited for the next step at nationals with everybody and one more tournament together.”
First Star: (G) Anya Zupkofska
Zupkofska was a wall in net all day long.
Making glove saves with ease and turning away every puck that came her way, Zupkofska did not give an inch to the Wizards. Peppered the entire game but completing the shutout, her impact on the Eagles’ win was unmatched.
Second star: (F) Camryn Bell
Bell’s speed on breakaways was evident all game long. Seemingly the fastest player on the ice for either team, Bell added two goals in the third period to shut the door in what was a defensive masterclass by the Eagles.
Third star: (F) Grace Stirling
Stirling’s lone goal would prove to be a pivotal difference-maker in the title game. While both the Eagles and Wizards had chances all game, she cashed in with her wrist shot midway through the second period. Stirling’s goal opened the floodgates and started the scoring for Eagles.
In addition to netting a goal, Stirling stood out, making the smart, extra passes and digging the puck out when necessary.
