WORCESTER — The latest installment of the Massachusetts High School Hockey Coaches Association girls’ All-Star game has to be considered a rousing success.
Waltham senior Angalisa Caceda, Catie Kampersal of Peabody/Lynnfield/North Reading and Newburyport standout Abby Stauss sniped a trio of consecutive goals in the final period, rallying Team North to a wild 4-3 victory over Team South at the 2024 MSHCA Girls All-Star Game at the Fidelity Bank Worcester Ice Center.
“This is one of the best events ever,” said Team North and Burlington girls hockey coach Rick Sheehan. “Absolutely. Especially for the seniors. They really enjoy it. They enjoy each other. For a group that just came together today, and I know a few of them know each other previously, but they’re all laughing and joking. They’re dancing with the music between whistles. It was a really good experience today.”
The two star-studded teams struggled to find the net in the opening period. As one could expect, given the fact that two recent championship goaltenders were standing on opposite sides of the ice. St. Mary’s (Lynn) star Gianna Tringale stood on her head in the first for the North, while Duxbury’s Anna McGinty held serve for the South. Team North struck first with 1:09 to play in the period, as Reading’s Delia Roy fired a shot through traffic to make it a 1-0 contest.
In a unique twist designed in-part to aid with the day’s events, the second period was essentially split into two halves, each running 8:30. The Southern All-Stars responded on both sides of the intermission however. Bishop Feehan’s Caitlin Kelly and Jen Birolini of Pembroke registered two goals within a one-minute stretch to put their group ahead, 2-1. Then, just two minutes after the intermission, Team South picked up a third tally off the stick of Canton’s Ana Lehan, cruising into the final period with a comfortable 3-1 lead.
With 9:44 left in regulation, the Northern All-Stars began their final charge, as Caceda buried a shot off an assist from Arlington Catholic’s Kathleen Simmons to cut it to 3-2. Then, just 1:16 afterwards, they would find the equalizer from Kampersal, stunning the crowd on-hand.
With 6:17 remaining, the Northern All-Stars gained possession, and began throwing pucks at the opposite net in a flurry. Stauss collected the puck, then potted the clinching goal for her squad.
Molly Driscoll of Belmont/Watertown was credited with an assist during the game-winning sequence for Team North.
“I was just trying to get shots up,” said Driscoll. “It was 3-3, there wasn’t a lot of time left. Just trying to get anything on net. The first (attempt) hit the post, deflected. But we had a player coming down (the ice) with me, trailing the whole time. She was able to tuck it in, and that really saved me at the end there.”
Tringale registered 17 saves for Team North in net. Meanwhile, McGinty collected 16 saves for Team South.
“I like to think (wins) come from coaching,” chuckled Sheehan. “But they’re all just such good players. It was a great game. Back-and-forth, could have gone either way. We ended up banging in some rebounds, getting some puck luck, which is good.”
