HAVERHILL – It was a simple flip, one that would have every coach from the mites to the pros rejoicing. Good things happen when you get the puck to the net.
Kira Dolan’s flutter-puck from the blue line hopped, skipped and jumped past Franklin goalie Izzy Brown, cracking the ice for No. 4 HPNA late in the first period of Tuesday night’s Division 1 Round of 32 tourney opener.
The 1-0 lead put the heavily favored hosts at ease and sucked the energy out of upset-minded Franklin, which ultimately fell, 4-0.
“The goal was huge. If we came into the room at 0-0, it probably would have been a different story. The kids were energized,” said HPNA coach Gary Kane.
“The kids, the moment, we were just a little nervous, and (Franklin) played like it had nothing to lose. We got the jitters out and played much better in the second and third.”
Dolan, a Pentucket Regional senior defenseman, agreed.
“They came out really fast. We were kind of jittery. We needed to settle down and play our own game. We got there eventually,” said Dolan, who now has five goals on the year.
“We settled our jitters, and we were able to come back stronger. The playoffs bring a whole different environment. I think it helps us in the end.”
Paige Nottingham, Quinn Bennett and Chase Nassar would add insurance goals for HPNA, which now awaits the winner of Wednesday night’s matchup between No. 13 Natick and No. 20 Shawsheen/Bedford. That one is slated for Sunday night right back here with a 6 p.m. start.
Those goals, per usual, were barely needed.
The MBTA could re-route the Haverhill commuter train line right through Veterans Memorial Rink, and Julianna Taylor would stop it.
She stops EVERYTHING.
The North Andover High senior goalie turned aside 17 shots for her sixth shutout of the season.
Not much was needed from Taylor after the first – although she did stone a Franklin breakaway to keep things at 2-0 in the second – but the big saves early stabilized her crew, allowing them to find their legs.
“That one kid, No. 11 (Julia Flynn), she’s fast, quick player, and she just kept stepping into the open spaces,” said Kane. “They may have only had five shots, but she had four of them, and as I said to (Taylor), they were quality shots.”
HPNA tended to its business, controlling the second and third, like a playoff-savvy bunch with big ideas should.
“It feels pretty good. We’ll keep the ball rolling, and hopefully pull off a few more wins,” said Dolan.