GLOUCESTER — The improving Masconomet girls hockey team took a big step toward getting itself in the state tournament on Saturday, battling a solid Beverly team to a tight 1-1 draw at Talbot Rink.
The Chieftains (6-6-4) are unbeaten in their last three and need four points over their last four games to qualify.
Grabbing a point from a Beverly team that at 8-4-2 looks like a lock for the playoffs — and that beat the Chieftains 4-0 a month ago — shows just how far Masconomet has come the last few weeks.
"If we can play like this the rest of the way, we're going to have a good finish," said Masco coach Andrew Boepple.
The tie wasn't without some drama in the final minutes, as Beverly's top line of Nicole Woods, Livvy Konaxis and Allyson Spencer had the puck sandwiched in the Masco end for the last two minutes of the game.
The smooth skating and crisp passing line had an extended shift with both teams using their timeouts, but just couldn't get the perfect shot to beat Masco goalie Alex Jones (27 saves).
"You're almost thinking I wish we had two more minutes and maybe we could get one in," Beverly coach Fiona Rice said. "That's a really solid goalie in Jones, and she makes it feel like you have to get 20 shots a period to beat her."
Kendra Dow scored Masco's lone goal midway through the second period when she hammered a feed from Catherine Headrick by Beverly's Jenna LoVasco, who finished with 18 saves. Captain Katarina Buchta also picked up an assist on the goal, which came as the Chieftains found their legs in the second period.
The Panthers controlled the flow for much of the first, and jumped on top just 1:35 into the game when Rachel Trocchi tipped a Nicole Woods shot into the cage.
Masco got itself going in the second thanks to some aggressive play from Dow, whose hard forechecking was contagious. As the Chieftains picked up their play, Dow was justly rewarded the goal parked in front.
"Kendra gives outstanding effort game in and game out. That efforts seem to be the ones that light the fire for the rest of the girls," Boepple said. "In the first, we had a lot of turnovers at our blue line and that led to odd-man rushed. We eliminated that by making better passes."
LoVasco's best save of the night came in the second after Masco tied the score 1-1. Buchta found herself all alone in front, but LoVasco was able to get her stick on the shot to keep the game tied.
Her counterpart at the other end, Jones, had some great stops, as well. Masco's rock in net stayed home to make rebound saves on Sam Jones and Nicole Kamens in the second, but her best came in the first period.
Beverly's Woods was wide open at the far post and Konaxis found her, but Jones slid across the crease to rob the Panthers' sophomore sniper.
"It was a good game," Rice said. "There were some chances, and our defensemen did a good job breaking the puck out. That's an improved Masco team, definitely a quality team."
Caitlin McBride and Katie Szela controlled the blue line for Beverly, but the Chieftains were intent on blocking their bombs from the point. Masco's Nancy Palermo and Becca Cleary carried the load on defense.
