By Meghann Panarello
The MOA Warriors (OA girls hockey team combined with Mansfield and Foxborough) had a long vacation as they played 4 tough season deciding games. The girls had 4 games left in the season needing 5 points to make the playoffs.
The team started the long ride on Saturday with their senior night honoring seniors Meghann Panarello (OA) and Liz Healy (Mansfield) playing Walpole. Walpole had just come off of a big fundraiser as one of the moms was diagnosed with ALS giving the girls something to play for other than just their season. The Warriors had a scary end to the game as Walpole scored two goals in a row in result of the Warriors getting penalties, tying the game with 4 minutes left. Goaltender Jess Widdop (OA) had a scary injury after the game tying goal, forcing the Warriors to play with an empty net for the rest of the game. The girls still had a penalty kill leaving the game 5 on 5 until Walpole got a late penalty. The Warriors took advantage of the 5 on 4 leading to lots of shots on net. Finally, Ella Waryas (Foxborough) was able to get it to Alex Ledin (Foxborough) to put the Warriors up by one, letting the girls pull out with the win and 2 points.
Next the girls faced Westwood with an outstanding 4-2 win. Everyone skated hard against an amazing team pulling out an underdog win giving the team another 2 points.
Needing one more point, the girls headed on a long ride to Falmouth. The girls were expected to play Falmouth, but with the last minute change, they headed to face the almost undefeated La Salle Academy. With an early goal in the first, the girls came out strong. The La Salle girls scored 3 unanswered goals with another MOA goal followed. With the La Salle girls up 3-2, they took a penalty putting the Warriors on the power play. The girls were able to get the puck in the back of the net until the goalie pulled it out without the refs seeing. This led to their best player getting a breakaway and scoring. The Warriors lost 4-2 on a tough road trip, but had their final game the next morning.
The girls headed to an early game in Rockland to play Whitman Hansen. Goalie Jess Widdop (OA) played amazing, stopping 4 breakaways and earning a shutout. Junior Captain Emma Pereira (OA), scored a late third period goal as she sniped it past Whitman Hansen’s goalie who had been playing outstanding as well. The Warriors pulled out a win and another 2 points putting them into the playoffs.
The MOA Warriors (25th seed) will play Boston Latin (8th seed) at the Murphy rink in Boston at 7 pm on Wednesday, February 26th. The Warriors plan to come out hard as they start their road to the garden.