It’s not too often that a local athlete from the Eagle-Tribune area gets featured by Andover’s Dan Roche on Channel 4 sports. It’s also not too often to have a student-athlete such as Julianna Taylor, who not only has an incredible resume as the goalie of the HPNA girls’ hockey team, but also with her other two sports, her school activities and her volunteer work in the local communities.
A senior, Taylor closed out her magnificent four-year career with the co-op team as one of two goalies in state history to record over 2,000 saves in a career. This season alone, she led the team to a historical season, reaching the Division 1 state semi-finals, while posting a 17-2-5 record, a 1.00 GAA with six shutouts, giving up just seven third period goals out of 25 games, and making 713 saves.
She is now a four-time Eagle-Tribune First-team All-Star. Taylor finished her career with 50 victories, including six in the playoffs and had 22 career shutouts with four in the post-season.
“Julianna can play at the highest level of hockey in the future,” said head coach Gary Kane, noting that Taylor has yet to decide on her collegiate plans. “She gave us an opportunity to be in every game and to compete against anyone in the state. She will be missed.”
As a freshman, Taylor had a 1.60 GAA with five shutouts. As a sophomore, she had a 1.45 GAA and a .950 save percentage. She enjoyed a 39-save performance against Peabody and posted shutouts over Longmeadow, Mansfield and Newburyport.
Last year, she finished with a .938 save percentage, a 1.65 GAA and stopped 431 shots, including 57 in a 1-0 overtime loss to Notre Dame of Hingham.
In field hockey, the North Andover resident was tabbed to the Eagle-Tribune First team after scoring 18 goals this past fall. She also plays lacrosse in the spring and is an avid golfer.
Besides athletics, she is a member of the NAHS DECA program and captured first place at the district competition. An honor roll student, she also volunteers her time with the high school’s Best Buddies program and with Special Olympics.