KINGSTON – The Tenney Cup is noted as one of the holiday break’s premier tournaments for its eight-team lineup of girls hockey juggernauts, and its opening game lived up to the billing Friday afternoon at The Bog.
Behind a game-changing forecheck and its typical depth, top-ranked Duxbury rallied from a two-goal deficit in the first period to outlast No. 17 Milton, 4-2, in a matchup of Div. 2 elites. Four different players scored across all three lines for the Dragons (3-0), doubling down on last year’s state quarterfinal win over the Wildcats (4-1).
Senior Zoey Madigan led the two-time reigning state champions with a goal and an assist, while freshman third-liner Ceci Tremante potted the game-winner in an all-around signature performance.
“Once they scored those two goals, it was kind of a wake-up call for us,” Madigan said. “Once we got two, we just kept them going, so I think that was good. We do remember how we played them last year, we beat them and went to the (state) semifinals. We just wanted to keep that momentum going into this game.”
“That’s a good win,” added head coach Dan Najarian. “They’re a top-five team in Div. 2, so that’s a good measuring stick.”
Milton’s Molly Murphy scored in the first 35 seconds, and her second goal about six minutes later put the Dragons in an early 2-0 hole.
But once the forecheck generated a turnover, a feed to the slot and a quality shot on net that freshman Caera Hart (21 saves) stopped with about five minutes left in the first, Duxbury started clicking on all cylinders.
Eight more shots on Hart followed for the rest of the period, two of which seniors Maeve Gallagher and Madigan scored on to tie things up.
Duxbury didn’t struggle much getting activity in scoring spots from there, with Tremante scoring 5:50 into the second period for the game-winner, and Megan Carney finishing off a rebound in the third for insurance.
Gallagher’s goal came from the second line. Madigan tied things up with the top line, and her pass to Addy Harrington led to a shot and the Carney follow for the fourth goal.
Duxbury has made a concerted effort toward establishing a reliable third line in the early part of this season, and Tremante’s second goal in as many games – working well with senior Caylee Higgins, Olivia Gleason and Rachel Scheiss – delivered on it.
Sami Norton and Alannah Gallagher shined on defense to limit shots on Carina Perry (14 saves), helping the Dragons shut out Milton over the last 38 minutes of play.
In other action, physicality, premier talent up top, and strong goaltending are going to be major drivers for the Notre Dame Academy of Hingham in its bid to get back to TD Garden.
All of which is exactly what the No. 2 Cougars (2-0) showed against No. 8 Bishop Feehan to pull out a 3-0 win.
Erin Kral was lights out in net with 17 saves to shut out the Shamrocks (2-1-1). Morgan Brady added to it with a two-goal second period, while the defense killed four penalties and held Bishop Feehan without a shot in the third period.
“It was a good game,” said Cougars head coach John Findley. “It’s a good confidence builder. But I think what happens is, the girls understand that they can win games without playing their best hockey. … Their best hockey is in front of them.”
Impressive goaltending was on full display for both teams, with Bishop Feehan’s Aviva Olitsky posting 28 saves to keep the game from blowing up out of reach. Kral didn’t face as much volume with how the defense – led by Emma Burke, Katie Ryan, Ella Faherty and Dana Leahy – played in front of her, but was tasked with stonewalling a penalty shot and a few odd-man rushes to keep the shutout.
Burke ripped a shorthanded one-timer from the point through traffic with 6:33 left in the first period, following a pair of saves from Olitsky for a 1-0 lead. Brady scored her first midway through the second period, and the senior – who transferred back to NDA from Tilton Academy – tallied another five minutes later to make it 3-0.