NORTH ANDOVER – With big implications on the line in a rematch of Div. 1 girls hockey powers Saturday night, neither No. 1 Methuen/Tewksbury nor No. 5 HPNA wavered through overtime of a 1-1 tie at Merrimack College.
The MVC/DCL Large’s top two teams saw both defenses star once again, allowing just one goal apiece despite numerous rushes and several waves of pressure that forechecks sustained throughout.
The Red Rangers (11-0-2) dialed up their play in a strong third period and overtime to remain unbeaten, while HPNA (11-1-3) rebounded from a 1-0 loss to Methuen/Tewksbury earlier in the year by holding off a late charge to earn the tie.
“Tying, we take that step forward,” HPNA head coach Gary Kane said. “It’s a great lesson. Yes, would winning have been better? Absolutely. But I sometimes say, these are the kind of games that make you hungrier for that win.”
Eighth-grader Taylor Bierschied gave HPNA a 1-0 lead about midway through the second period, using a highlight-reel toe drag to get on a breakaway, and she finished top-shelf past the glove of star Red Rangers goalie Lydia Barnes (14 saves).
HPNA sophomore goalie Chris Hinchcliffe (29 saves) was stellar behind a defensive group that blocked likely more shots than the ones that got through, but Methuen/Tewksbury answered early in the third on Sammy Ryan’s game-tying goal.
“Coming away with the tie – ties aren’t ideal but it keeps them off our heels and hopefully it’ll be a lesson,” Red Rangers interim coach Ryan Sheehy said. “Obviously, that (comeback) is exactly what we wanted them to do. We came in the locker room (after the second) and said, ‘Hey, we’ve got 15 hard minutes. We can put our tail between our legs and go home, or we can come out fighting.’ And that’s exactly what they did.”
Hinchcliffe’s outing was reminiscent of the gems former four-year star Julianna Taylor used to dial up in big matchups for HPNA, denying Methuen/Tewksbury on its first 23 shots. Several of those shots came on three Red Rangers power plays, which the HPNA penalty kill unit posted a perfect 3-for-3 outing against.
Shortly after Methuen/Tewksbury killed off one of its penalties, its forecheck generated a turnover in HPNA’s zone that Ella Duffy scooped at the left wall and sent to Emily Barbosa at the left point. Barbosa’s pass to the left circle split HPNA defenders and found Ryan with a lane to the net, and she fired a contested shot to the top far corner with 9:58 left.
“It shows we want it,” Ryan said. “We want the puck, we want to score, we want to win games and all.”
Methuen/Tewksbury carried play a bit from there, but HPNA still excelled in limiting activity on Hinchcliffe.
And whatever did get through, including four shots in overtime, the sophomore denied with poise.
“She’s spectacular,” Kane said. “Watching what Jules did the last four years, it’s like (Hinchcliffe) hasn’t skipped a beat. We have a goalie we can trust in those moments.”
