Photo: Belmont High Co-capt. Sadie Taylor (18) celebrates a goal against Arlington Catholic in the Marauders first round victory in the MIAA Division 1 state girls’ hockey tournament

First-period goals from Belmont High’s most experienced and one of its youngest players provided the winning margin as the Marauders advanced to the Sweet 16 of the MIAA State Division 1 Girls Hockey tournament with a 2-0 blanking of Arlington Catholic on Tuesday, Feb. 25.

Co-capt. Sadie Taylor – the team’s only senior – opened the scoring 52 seconds into the match on a bang-bang strike while 8th grader defender Amelia Long scored her first point of the season when her shot from just inside the blue line handcuffed AC’s senior goalie Katlin Sacco with 15 seconds remaining in the first period. Belmont’s junior goalie, Jil Costa, was troubled only a few times in earning the clean sheet as the Marauder’s defensive pairings got the better of the Cougar’s speedy forwards. 

“I’m extremely proud of the girls. They worked so hard all season, and we got the home game. Take nothing away from Arlington Catholic but we got two in the first and never looked back,” said Belmont Head Coach Brendan Kelleher. “And now we get to keep the rink open for another couple of days, and that was our goal when we went into the tournament.”

The Marauders (16-1-4) will face a familiar foe in the next round in Middlesex Liberty league rival Reading Memorial (14-6-1). Eight-seed Belmont defeated the number nine-ranked Rockets at home in January, 4-3, before drawing the February return fixture, 3-3. On Tuesday, the Rockets defeated Bishop Feehan, 2-0, to earn the opportunity to take on Belmont for the third time this season.

The match date and time have yet to be determined.

Kelleher said the key to the win was Taylor scoring in the first minute “which took the wind out of [AC’s] sails. While they had players who were flying out there but played out system and slowed them down,” he said. The initial goal came after first-year winger Alexcia Fici patiently headed behind the AC net and found her linemate streaking for the crease with a pin-point pass.

“Taylor’s engine never stops and the first line feeds off her,” said Kelleher.

The Cougar’s outstanding 7th grader Amelia Paes – who came closest scoring hitting the post late in the first – and 8th grade defender Addy Boczenowski applied the pressure on the Marauders. Still Costa came up with another seemingly effortless performance to secure the shutout.

“I don’t breath easy during tournament games but when you have Jil Costa in net, she makes me feel a lot better just how composed she is back there,” said Kelleher.

And Long waited for the perfect time to get her first point all year with a solid drive from the point that found its way off her blocker and glove into the net.

“It was really cool. I was really excited when it went in,” said Long.

“Every now and then, I’ll get nervous because it’s my first year playing. But after the first or second shift, I get excited and then I’m fine.”