Saturday was just what Dedham High girls hockey coach Christine Gurskis needed for her club’s shaky confidence.
After suffering three straight defeats to fall five games below .500, the Marauders welcomed winless Brookline to Flood Rink. Six players posted multiple-point nights as the hosts rolled to a 9-1 victory over the Warriors.
"It was good for us," said Gurskis, whose team stands at 4-8-0 overall and 4-7-0 in the Bay State Conference. "I was able to get everyone lots of playing time. We had a lot of different goal scorers, so hopefully that built some confidence.
"It was a good time to have a game like that," she continued. "It really pumped up the kids. They were smiling and enjoying themselves on the bench. We needed that."
Leading the charge was an unlikely player – freshman Maggie McIsaac, who was just called up from the J.V. that day to fill in on the third line. The forward made the most of the opportunity by scoring the first two goals of her varsity career.
First-line star Colleen Downing had two goals and an assist to be the game’s big point-getter, while linemate Sam Girard picked up three assists. Freshman Christina Maloof and seniors Laura O’Hanlon and Emma Child each had a goal and an assist. Courtney Sullivan added a goal.
Gurskis also got a boost with the long-awaited return of second-line winger Meghan Simone, who made her season debut after recovering from a concussion she suffered in the preseason jamboree. But as one player returned, another Marauder was lost – as junior center Kassandra Costello suffered a separated shoulder in the Braintree game on Jan. 16 and is expected to be lost for the rest of the season.
Jamie Carty got the start in net and the win, while Gurskis gave the last nine minutes to backup Bailey Mudge.
The Marauders were definitely smarting coming into Saturday as they suffered a tough 2-1 defeat to Newton North last Wednesday. Girard set up Downing for the Dedham goal, but a bad roll of the puck doomed the Marauders.
"That was a really tough loss; we had so many opportunities to get that second goal," said Gurskis. "There were a couple times where the puck was just sitting there on their doorstep and we couldn’t bang it home. Then, on their winner, Jamie made the initial save, but the puck rolled up over her. It was a real heartbreaker for us."
Saturday was just what Dedham High girls hockey coach Christine Gurskis needed for her club’s shaky confidence.
After suffering three straight defeats to fall five games below .500, the Marauders welcomed winless Brookline to Flood Rink. Six players posted multiple-point nights as the hosts rolled to a 9-1 victory over the Warriors.
"It was good for us," said Gurskis, whose team stands at 4-8-0 overall and 4-7-0 in the Bay State Conference. "I was able to get everyone lots of playing time. We had a lot of different goal scorers, so hopefully that built some confidence.
"It was a good time to have a game like that," she continued. "It really pumped up the kids. They were smiling and enjoying themselves on the bench. We needed that."
Leading the charge was an unlikely player – freshman Maggie McIsaac, who was just called up from the J.V. that day to fill in on the third line. The forward made the most of the opportunity by scoring the first two goals of her varsity career.
First-line star Colleen Downing had two goals and an assist to be the game’s big point-getter, while linemate Sam Girard picked up three assists. Freshman Christina Maloof and seniors Laura O’Hanlon and Emma Child each had a goal and an assist. Courtney Sullivan added a goal.
Gurskis also got a boost with the long-awaited return of second-line winger Meghan Simone, who made her season debut after recovering from a concussion she suffered in the preseason jamboree. But as one player returned, another Marauder was lost – as junior center Kassandra Costello suffered a separated shoulder in the Braintree game on Jan. 16 and is expected to be lost for the rest of the season.
Jamie Carty got the start in net and the win, while Gurskis gave the last nine minutes to backup Bailey Mudge.
The Marauders were definitely smarting coming into Saturday as they suffered a tough 2-1 defeat to Newton North last Wednesday. Girard set up Downing for the Dedham goal, but a bad roll of the puck doomed the Marauders.
"That was a really tough loss; we had so many opportunities to get that second goal," said Gurskis. "There were a couple times where the puck was just sitting there on their doorstep and we couldn’t bang it home. Then, on their winner, Jamie made the initial save, but the puck rolled up over her. It was a real heartbreaker for us."
But there were a lot of positives to come out of the loss, according to the coach. "It was the most aggressive game the girls had played. They were being physical, going into the corners. We had a chance to beat them, so it was tough to end up on the other side of it."
Gurskis lauded the play of her defense, with senior captain Annelise Mahoney anchoring the back.
"She’s been doing a great job on the blue line for us; she’s a real leader out there," said Gurskis of Mahoney. "She’s playing with sophomore Casey Donlan, and they’re working well together. And senior Kathleen Donlan, who was a forward we moved back to defense, has been doing a great job, as well."
The rest of the way, there won’t be any winless opposition. Last night, the Marauders played at Norwood, a club that entered just one point out of the Herget Division lead. Saturday, they host a Natick squad that is battling for a state tournament berth. On Wednesday, the Marauders travel to Iorio Arena to face a strong Walpole club.
"Basically, the rest of our games are tough," said Gurskis. "But we still have a chance to make the tournament, and we’re not going to give up that goal until we are eliminated. We’re just going to take it one game at a time.
"We’re not putting the puck in the net like we’ve done in the past, and we’re not playing tight enough defensively, but the girls are trying," Gurskis added. "We have skill but lack experience, especially on the blue line. It’s been a learning process, and it’s not an overnight thing. Hopefully we’ll have some luck in the last seven games.
"I told them it’s still in their hands. We just have to do the little things right, and capitalize on their mistakes and limit ours. If we do those things, good things will happen."
