They say in your biggest games, your best players need to rise up and play their best.
There is no question that this season, sophomore Caitlyn Tremblay has been one of the best players for the Burlington High girl’s hockey team and she was on Wednesday night scoring twice and setting up a third in the Devils 4-2 win over Abington.
“She’s been good all year long and I have had many coaches compliment her game,” said Burlington coach Rick Sheehan of Tremblay. “She plays her heart out. She has speed, she had hands, she has vision, and she played well tonight.”
That speed paid off for Tremblay when she broke into the Norwell zone past the defense, flanked by right wing Lexi MacKinnon. She looked off MacKinnon and fired one glove side for a 1-0 Devils lead.
Burlington dominated the rest of the period outshooting Norwell 11-3 but went into the locker room with just a one goal lead.
Early in the second period, the Devils doubled their lead on a power play. With good puck movement, a shot for Shea McDonald opened up and MacKinnon banged home the rebound for a 2-0 lead.
Despite what appeared to be an advantage in play, momentum shifted midway through the second period and Norwell got on the board when Lainey Burns put one home to cut the lead in half.
It was a stretch early in the third period where the Devils put the game away for good.
Just 21 seconds into the final period, with the Devils shorthanded, senior captain Abby Sousa poked a puck from the defensive zone into the neutral zone, and Tremblay picked it up and burst in on a breakaway firing a shot glove side for a 3-1 advantage.
Only 2:35 later, Burlington extended the lead to 4-1 when Anna Viglione stuffed home a rebound at the crease. Emma Steiner and Katherine Geswell assisted.
Norwell added a power play goal but from there it was the Devils experienced defense (two seniors and two juniors) led by Sousa, Katie Hayes, Mia Lauder, and Lizzie Boulos that stabilized the win.
“When you play defense, you have to make good decisions and that group makes good decisions with the puck,” said Sheehan. “We talk about no turnovers all the time and they’ve been listening to me for years at this point, so they do a really good job moving the puck.”
Freshman Isa Fischer was solid in the Burlington net making 14 saves in the winning effort.
Burlington will play Winchester in the next round. The Devils won their earlier meeting this season, all the way back on December 14th.
