Belmont Girls' Hockey Downs No. 1 Woburn, 3-2

A pair of goals by junior forward Alexandra Cellucci and an outstanding game by junior goaltender Megan Foley propelled Belmont Girls' Hockey to its biggest win in years as they dominated consensus No. 1 Woburn Tanners, 3-2, at Belmont's Skip Viglirolo Skating Rink Saturday afternoon, Jan. 14.

Belmont's defense, led by Foley playing her best game in the past two season as a starter, deadened Woburn's superior straight line speed while the Marauders' passing game never allowed the Tanners to establish a sustained attack as it was forced to play large portions of the game in their defensive zone.

Woburn – ranked No. 1 by both the Boston Globe and Hockey Night in Boston – scored first when junior Kayla Smith poked in a shot from fellow junior Cassandra Connolly within the first four minutes but Belmont quickly equalized a little over a minute later when third line senior Casey McLaughlin scored her first career goal, striking a bouncing puck past sophomore goalie Courtney Davis, after a series of passes from Yvonne Sciascia and defender Casey Shea.

With less than five minutes in the second, Cellucci took a clearing pass from defender Courtney Winn and muscled by three Woburn skaters before slotting a shot by McLaughlin. 

After a scoreless second, Belmont's continuous pressure during the third period paid off as Cellucci put in the puck from in close with five minutes left with assists from her line mates Caroline McCarthy and Erin O'Donovan, giving the Marauders a two goal lead.

Woburn made it interesting by scoring a man down with 31 seconds left in the game as outstanding sophomore Emily Lissner finished off a beautiful rush up ice with assists to fellow sophomore Ashley Moran and Smith.

But there would be no fantastic finish for the Tanners as Belmont goes to 7-2-0 and Woburn falls from the unblemished to 6-1-0.