CONCORD, Mass. — It was close to the end in a game filled with rising prep hockey stars.
On Sunday, the Assabet Valley U16s took a 3-2 win over the Bay State Breakers in a back-and-forth affair.
Bella Freitas (Everett, Mass.) scored a goal and added an assist for Assabet, and Chloe Chitkara (Wayland, Mass.) scored both goals for the Breakers.
Molly Bardol (Walpole, Mass.) opened the scoring just 31 seconds into the game before Chitkara answered 1:19 into the second period. Freitas got on the board to retake the lead with 4:48 left in the second, but Chitkara tied it up again with 1:31 to go in the frame.
Freitas and Assabet got the last laugh when she set up Zoe Smith's (Westford, Mass.) game-winner in the slot with 1:38 remaining in regulation.
Here are six standouts from the game.
Bella Freitas
Assabet/Cushing, 2009, F, right shot
Freitas was everywhere for Assabet, especially after her goal. She was a menace for the Breakers' breakouts, disrupting plays and intercepting passes. She read one play perfectly in the third, easily picking off a pass from Adeline Wiesel and walking right in alone, but Wiesel made up for it by catching up to her and making a good stick check. Freitas forced another turnover at the top of the circle, getting in tight for another good shot, but Maggie Whelden made a good stick save. The pass to Smith was ridiculous as Freitas took a look over her right shoulder and zipped it right to Smith's tape through traffic in front as she got hauled down by a defender.
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Maggie Whelden
Bay State Breakers/Groton, 2027, G, catches left
Whelden (Sandwich, Mass.) was busy, especially down the stretch as Assabet pushed to break the stalemate. If not for her, the score may have favored Assabet a little more. She reacted and recovered quickly on opportunities around the crease and did a solid job of turning rebounds toward the corners. Three of her best saves came late in the third, all on Grade-A's in the slot, robbing Freitas, Lana Hardin (Tyngsboro, Mass.) and Lyla Rahn (Stratham, NH). She anticipated each play and got into good positions to make the saves look easy.
Chloe Chitkara
Bay State Breakers/Rivers, 2026, F, right shot, 5-3
Chitkara (Wayland, Mass.) was critical for the Breakers with both her goals, but it was her play in her own end and away from the puck that helped her stand out. She was usually in good positions and had a good active stick in the defensive zone, disrupting some low-to-high plays at the half wall. Chitkara also did a good job making herself available during some frantic breakouts for the Breakers. There was one late where she felt pressure from a forechecker bearing down on her, cut back toward the wall to shake free and found a good outlet through the middle for a clean exit.
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Tatum Friedholm
Assabet/Groton, 08/2009, D, left shot, 5-9
Friedholm (Sudbury, Mass.) made good plays in transition throughout. She was quick with her decisions on regroups and put pucks into good areas for her forwards. Friedholm, who starred at Lincoln-Sudbury last season, also made a good call to jump up and pinch late in the game as Assabet ramped up the pressure in search of the game-winner. It led to more zone time after she got a quick, hard shot on net out of it.
Lana Hardin
Assabet/Governor's, 2009, F, right shot
Hardin (Tyngsboro, Mass.) plays a good two-way, high-IQ game, and it was on display on Sunday. She seemed to be a step or two ahead of the defense, always thinking of where she was going next with the puck. She made a great pass to Rahn in the slot for a redirect, firing it from the boards as soon as she got the puck. Whelden made the save, but the timing of the whole play was excellent. Later that shift, Hardin got lost in coverage and found open space to the left of the net for a great chance in tight.
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Molly Bardol
Assabet/Cushing, 1/20/09, F, left shot, 5-7
Bardol found the back of the net in this one, and she played with a lot of confidence. She showcased excellent patience and vision with the puck. Her head was always up in the offensive zone looking for the best option, and she didn't rush plays or force anything to the middle that wasn't there. She also did a great job facilitating the cycle and getting into open lanes, creating confusion for defenders.
