After one win all of last season and an 0-5 start to the 2022-2023 season, it would have been easy for the Shawsheen Tech/Bedford girls hockey team to be feeling down.
It didn’t.
The Rams put together a six-game winning streak from Dec. 28 through Jan. 18, then shook off a stretch of four losses in a row to string together three more exciting victories in recent action.
With only Wednesday’s trip to Gloucester left in the regular season, the Rams have a 9-9 record and are preparing for a game in the Div. 1 state tournament.
With a 6-9 overall record, Shawsheen knocked off Marblehead by a 4-1 score on Feb. 10 and then added back-to-back victories over Medford and Masconomet Regional last Wednesday and Saturday.
Against Medford, a team the Rams beat 2-0 earlier in the year, Shawsheen actually trailed 2-1 after the first period before the offense started clicking.
Paige Fuller of Wilmington scored with 6:33 left in the second period to tie the score. Olivia O’Brien of Bedford assisted Fuller’s tally.
Junior Alexis Fox of Wilmington, who had two goals in the victory over Marblehead, put the Rams ahead to stay just 52 seconds into the third period.with O’Brien and Rebecca Sobol of Bedford earning assists.
The 3-2 lead held up for the Rams until 4:40 remained, that’s when Anna McEachern of Bedford converted an O’Brien feed to give Shawsheen/Bedford a two-goal cushion.
Just 58 seconds later, Sobol knocked in an unassisted goal to complete the scoring.
Sobol also had Shawsheen’s first goal, assisted by Macy Savage of Wilmington in the first period to tie the game at 1-1.
After allowing two goals in the opening six minutes of play, the Ram defense and goalie Elianna Munroe of Billerica shut down the Mustangs the rest of the way.
Against Masco, the Rams trailed 4-2 in the first period before rallying for the victory.
Sobol started Shawsheen’s comeback with a goal late in the first period.
Violet Lorusso then tied the score at 5:50 of period No. 2, scoring a goal assisted by Kelsey Giordano of Billerica.
Less than two minutes later, Shawsheen struck again as Fuller scored, finishing a pass by Sobol, to give the Rams a 5-4 lead.
Masco would tie the score before the period ended.
Sobol came through with the only goal of the third period with eight minutes to go and the Ram defense did its job the rest of the way.
Lorusso had the first two Shawsheen goals with O’Brien and Fuller earning first-period assists.
Sobol and Lorusso each finished with three points apiece for Shawsheen/Bedford.
After Wednesday’s game in Gloucester, the Rams will await word on their first-round playoff opponent.
