Published in the Boston Globe on Feb. 20, 2013
Top-ranked Woburn High turned up its game Tuesday for the debut of one of the area’s biggest stages in girls’ hockey — the 8 Showcase.
The undefeated Tanners posted their 16th victory of the season, rolling past No. 3 Arlington Catholic, 4-1, on the first day of play at Pilgrim Arena in Hingham.
“I thought [the 8 Showcase] was great,’’ said Woburn coach Robert MacCurtain, whose team will face Acton-Boxboro on Thursday in the second round. “[Hingham coach] Tom Findley did a terrific job getting it organized. In terms of competition, it doesn’t get any better.”
The Tanners (16-0-3) faced a tough test in Cougars goalie Megan Messuri, who had given up only nine goals this season. But Messuri was tested early and often by a wave of Woburn goal scorers.
Junior Ashley Moran gave Woburn a 1-0 lead in the first period, collecting her 100th career point.
The teams traded goals in the second period — Erica Lissner for the Tanners at 13:26, and Jackie Sineoris for the Cougars with 58 seconds left — and Woburn carried just a 2-1 lead into the final period.
But Woburn struck just 27 seconds into the third period as Kayla Smith took a pass from Moran and scored her 31st goal of the season to make it 3-1. Moran then added an insurance goal — her second of the game — to seal the victory.
“All four were really good goals,” MacCurtain said. “I thought we played a strong game from start to finish, it was something we wanted to have happen against a good team like AC.”
Woburn goalie Christine Davis made 16 saves in the victory. Messuri finished with 17 saves.
Arlington Catholic (13-3-2) will meet No. 2 Duxbury on Thursday.