Girls’ Hockey Shuts Out NMH

This past Saturday, Northfield Mount Hermon (NMH) stepped onto Exeter home ice and was served up three uncontested goals by girls’ varsity hockey. This 3-0 victory over NMH broke Big Red’s three-game losing streak and put the girls’ record at 9-12-2.

Big Red walked out onto the ice ready to take on NMH, knowing that it would be an evenly matched game. Lower Kaleigh Conte said, “We knew NMH was a comparable team to us, so it was going to be a good game. We also knew it was important to come out with the ‘W’ for the seniors. Senior day definitely helped motivate us and come out ready to play from the drop of the puck.”

The team had been working all week in preparation for this game and knew that they had been getting better with each day. Upper Bonnie LaBonté said, “We’ve really improved by playing all three periods and not taking a shift off. We back-checked and fore-checked well.”

“I’m looking forward to a great final week with my best friends and enjoying being with the team in these last days at every meal and during practice.”

The girls continued to work well through all three periods, implementing their new skills and continuing to push forward on offense. Co-captain and senior Allegra Grant said, “Our penalty kill did a great job evening the playing field and stopping NMH’s momentum after we took a few dumb penalties.”

The team also noted Grant’s individual performance, as she was able to block every shot and secure the shut out against the equally skilled NMH offense. Conte said, “All the seniors played great, especially our goalie Allegra Grant. Once again, she kept us in it from the very first play of the first period to the very last play of the third period. It was important to us that she got the shutout she deserved. We owed it to her.”

Grant still credited the win to the team. She said, “We didn’t have a great first period, but in the second we came out hungry and gave a little extra to win every 50/50 battle and not let up for a second. After the first period, we wanted it more than NMH and the final score reflected [that].”

Moving forward, the team hopes to win their next two games against Winchendon at home and then grab another “W” in Smurf territory in a heated rematch at Andover. LaBonté  said, “I’m looking forward to a great final week with my best friends and enjoying being with the team in these last days at every meal and during practice,” she said. “I feel confident about our game with Winchendon and I love the E/a experience, win or lose, but I would love to beat them again, and I think we can.”

Whatever the record or the score at the end of each game, the girls hope to see everyone pounding on the Andover glass this weekend.