Melrose U12 Girls Headed to States Again, Win D10 Championship

Melrose Girls U-12 District 10 Champions

Will compete for State Championship in March

Melrose 4
Reading 0

Over Martin Luther King weekend the Melrose Girls U-12 hockey team beat Reading 4-0 to win the D-10 Championship and a spot in the State Tournament in March. Emma “red laces” Sikora got the scoring started with the one and only goal Melrose needed in the first period with an assist credited to Hannah Walsh. Tess Martin with an outstanding series insured the D10 Championship as she scored the next two and Rachel DiFraia iced the game with a beautiful wrist shot  with 4 seconds left on the clock. DiFraia’s goal was unassisted and assists where credited to Rowan Sullivan, Sam Shields, and Jillian Mercer on Martin’s goals. Hannah Aveni in net secured her second shut out of the series to advance the U12 team to the State Finals the weekend of March 23. This will be the third year in a row that the Melrose Youth Hockey girls program has made it to the state finals. In previous years they won silver and gold at States.

Melrose 4
Medford 0

To advance to the D-10 Championship game the U12 girls first needed to face a feisty Medford Mustang team. The Mustangs were led by a strong team defense and a very good goaltender. After a scoreless first period Tess Martin got the first of her three goals 3:27 into the 2nd period with an assist to Grace Sikora. That was followed 5 minutes later with Tess’ second goal with the assist going to the twin Emma Sikora. Halfway through the third Hannah Walsh found the back of the net with assists going to Emma Sikora and Saoirse Connelly. Tess Martin would seal the game and get her hat trick with 3:53 left in the game set up by Grace Sikora. The Sikora twins were involved in all four goals of the game!

Melrose 3
Stoneham 1

After beating the Medford Mustangs the Lady Red Raiders needed to play Stoneham with advancement to the final D-10 Championship game on the line. The Melrose squad fell behind in the first period when the Stoneham squad scored off a rebound. The Red Raiders came back in the second with Rachel DiFraia scoring the tying goal and then the go ahead goal with assists going to Hannah Walsh and Samantha Kroon. With 3:25 left in the 3rd Linnea Kelley scored the back breaker off a rebound of a Tess Martin shot. With 2:17 left Stoneham called time out and when the game resumed as they pulled their goaltender. Melrose was able to hold off the final push and advance to the Championship game against Reading. Hannah Aveni was in net throughout the Championship run and was outstanding. She allowed only one goal in three games. The defense of Samantha
Kroon, Jillian Mercer, Rowan Sullivan and Rachel DiFraia was impenetrable. The
forwards consist of Tess Martin, Mairead Clark, Linnea Kelley, Emma Pinault,
Carson Lynch, Julianne King, Saoirse Connolly, Emma Sikora, Hannah Walsh,
Samantha Shields, Kelly Stanton and Grace Sikora. They all played strong two
ways hockey throughout the tournament and are excited to be heading to States.

Melrose 3
Haverhill/Pentucket/North Andover 2

In non-tournament action the Melrose U-12 squad had a nice come from behind victory over Haverhill/Pentucket/North Andover at Hockeytown earlier in the weekend. Trailing 1-0 in the 2nd period Grace Sikora scored the first goal in
her inaugural year on the ice with a rebound in front set up by Samantha
Shields and Rachel DiFraia. HPNA answered back in less than a minute to reclaim the lead. With two minutes left in the 2nd DiFraia would score to tie the game once again on a goal set up by Tess Martin and Julianne King. The game would remain tied until 1:19 left in the third when DiFraia would score the go ahead goal and give the Red Raiders the lead for the first time in the game. Backup goaltender Linnea Kelley was in net for this game and played very well.

Melrose 5
Charlestown 2

The Red Raiders traveled to Charlestown this past Saturday night and jumped all over the Townies. Rachel Difraia scored 38 seconds into the game and Tess Martin added the second goal 20 seconds later of which both goals where unassisted. Later in the first period Rowan Sullivan scored off a powerful shot from the blue line to make the score 3-0. Assists were credited to Tess Martin and Emma Pinault. Charlestown came roaring back scoring 2 goals in the second period to
cut the Melrose lead to 3-2. Melrose did not panic and answered back. Jill
Mercer found the back of the net with a wrist shot from blue line set up by a
pass from Tess Martin and then Martin would add her second goal of the night
with 1:46 left in the 2nd. The score was now 5-2 going into the third and that is where it would remain. Hannah Aveni was in net and played a terrific game.