HOPEDALE – Both Girls Thunder teams have been nothing short of perfect as they both came into the weekend undefeated on the year. These Thunder teams have been scoring a fair amount of goals on the season, but they win games from the defensive side out.

On the other end of the ice were the host Blackstone Valley Barons. As the two met at the Blackstone Valley IcePlex on June 11, the Girls U14 Barons team looked to turn their season around with their first win of the season, while the Girls U19 Barons were hoping their offense began to click for the remainder of the season.

The Girls U14 contest featured a highly skilled Thunder team and a relentless Barons team. Fresh off a game the day before, no one knew how fatigued the Thunder would actually be.

Five minutes into the opening period, Maeve Hughes scored a rebound goal off of an Ava Sullivan wrist shot. It was the huge start they needed, the Thunder showing no signs of fatigue. There were a lot of quality back-and-forth scoring chances in the first period, and Sullivan displayed that in large quantities on Sunday. With 4:06 to play in the first period, the Thunder defender tossed the puck on net from an odd angle and it found the back of the net, making the score 2-0. With just over a minute to play in the opening act, however, the Barons answered. Ashtyn Bringardner was all alone in the slot and beat the goalie with a quick release, cutting the lead to one.

Marlboro’s Eliza Dutson scored the only goal in the second period. Dutson flew down the right wing and then crossed over to the left, accelerating past the defenders on the left side. With persistence Dutson was able to gain her own rebound and put the Thunder back up by two at 4:47 of the middle frame.

The final period showed more of the Thunder’s “defense leading to offense” methods. Just 15-seconds into the third, Bella Chaves made a phenomenal diving pass over to Grace Sciacca as she released a missile past Barons netminder Amy Donnelly. Yet, the Barons did not go away. Samantha Ledin added a goal with 1:06 to play in regulation, but it was not enough.

The final score resided at Thunder 4, Barons 2.

The Girls U19 Thunder and Barons were the league’s concluding act of the day with a 7:30 start time. Entering the contest, the Thunder had only allowed six goals in their first four games and we more of that great defense was seen on Sunday. Meanwhile, the Barons had only netted five goals in four games. A perfect chance for them to make a statement. 

Both goalies played outstanding and allowed an opportunity for their team to win – Angie Ferro for the Thunder and Blackstone Valley’s Cesira Barrett – but this game was carried on the shoulders by Ferro and Marlboro forward Gabbie Airosus. Ferro pitched a shutout, keeping her team atop the league in goals against (6). Meanwhile, Airosus got it done on the offense end, assisting on all three goals in the game.

The Barons had multiple Grade-A scoring opportunities throughout the game, but could not finish. A lack of discipline in the third period did not help their cause for a potential comeback.

The final score of the game was Thunder 3, Barons 0.