Game Recap
The first period started out fast and physical. Noble showed their experience and depth as they hemmed Andover in their own end for the majority of the period and tested Andover goaltender Sofia Margeas who found her groove early and stayed in it. Facing over 10 quality shots in the first frame, Margeas kept her team in the game as they adjusted to the speed of Nobles. Andover played opportunistic hockey and were able to capitalize on the opportunities they got. Andover’s #9 Gwyneth Lapp scored the first goal of the game with 1:52 remaining in the first period, drastically shifting the momentum heading into the first intermission.
Both teams settled in for the second period and Nobles began to press harder against the Andover defensive core. Andover’s #9 Lapp added her second of the game on a beautiful top corner shot that sailed right over #30 Taylor Hylands’s blocker. Nobles #9 Emmy O’Leary opened up the scoring for the Bulldogs with 14:52 remaining in the second on a top corner snipe. After a series of questionnable Andover penalties, Nobles was able to take over and gain the lead for the first time off of a goal from #7 Maeve Connolly with 7:50 left. A Nobles penalty put Andover up on the man advantage and Big Blue defender #6 Rose O’Connor netted her first of the game off of a seeing-eye shot from the point.
Nobles was able to add two more goals from #10 Katie Pyne and #24 Cassidy Piersiak to put the Bulldogs up 5-3. #9 Lapp had herself a day and finished off the hattrick effort with a beautiful backhand shot in the slot to bring the Big Blue back within one. But it was not enough and despite the multiple penalties that ensued on both sides, the score stayed 5-4 and Nobles was crowned the NEPSAC victor of the Elite 8 Bracket. Credit goes to Andover for being the first team all season to score more than two goals on Nobles all season. Congratulations to both teams on amazing seasons!
3 Stars of the game
- Gwyneth Lapp #9 (Andover)
- Emmy O’Leary #9 (Noble’s)
- Sofia Margeas #29 (Andover)
