The Shawsheen/Bedford Rams program record-setting season came to an end as the Rams fell 5-0 to the Hingham Harborwomen in a full house at Pilgrim Arena in Hingham in the first round of 32 in the MIAA Division 1 Girls’ State Tournament.
Both teams were entering the postseason bracket on winning streaks and hot end of season, honor avenging 3-2 victories – Shawsheen/Bedford besting Gloucester after losing 6-0 to the Fishermen earlier in the season and Hingham with a win over top seeded St. Mary’s.
Shawsheen/Bedford entered the game in the #28 seat with a 13-6-0 record. Hingham entered the game in the #5 seat (#3 in the HNIB ranking) with a 16-5-1 record.
While the young Rams team played hard, didn’t make many mistakes, and had some excellent goalkeeping, they just couldn’t get any offensive juice flowing. A strong, fast, and talented Hingham team played a strong forecheck with heavy pressure in the neutral zone that Shawsheen/Bedford couldn’t find a way to ram past. It would not be a David and Goliath ending for the Shawsheen/Bedford team.
Hingham’s Addy Garrity knocked in a rebound goal past Bedford eighth grade tender Elise McEachern under two minutes into the game. Hingham junior Caroline Doherty’s play quickly showcased how the talented 100-plus career goal scorer was awarded the Patriot League MVP honor for the second year in a row. Hingham scored two more at the tail end of the first period.
Elise McEachern came out on fire in the second period having key saves while Rams offensive lines of Sophia Babington, Violet Lorusso, Becca Sobol, Sophia Demeo, Anna McEachern, and Alexis Fox did not give up their attempts to infiltrate the offensive zone.
Hingham ended up with two more absolutely stunning goals in the middle of the second period that likely had even the Shawsheen/Bedford fans cheering at the beauty. Doherty got on the ice from a shift change, accepted the puck on a little give-and-go entering the offensive zone, drove towards the net with a little feint around the Rams’ defense, shifting the puck from the forehand to make a backhand top-shelf shot over McEachern’s shoulder.
A couple of minutes later, Hannah Lasch drove in from the Rams’ defensive zone boards, pulled a toe drag around defenders, and sent a slap shot in over McEachern’s shoulder in a “Nothing you can do about that one” goal.
After a timeout, Elianna Munroe came in to finish the game in net, and kept Hingham at bay with some excellent saves and the help of defenders Macy Savage, Olivia O’Brien, Corrine Foley, and Kayah Maloney. The game ended 5-0.
The Rams have a lot to celebrate about the 2023-2024 season. In their first year guided by head coach Mike Giordano and assistant coach Steve Hunt, the skaters earned their best record in team history. It was only the third time the team had qualified for the state tournament. The team is young, with 11 rostered freshmen, as well as three eighth-grade student-athletes.
Leading the team in points, freshman Becca Sobol and Violet Lorusso earned all-star recognition in the Northeastern Hockey League. The team will graduate captains Anna McEachern, Alexis Fox and Elianna Munroe, but has a lot to look forward to next season as the program continues to build and gain strength.
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