His team was shaken, and played in a bit of haze for the better part of two periods in a scoreless game with “new” rival Mt. Ararat on Saturday at Sidney J. Watson Arena in front of a supportive crowd.
Adjustments had to be made, first and foremost sniper Eliza Brooks switching back to forward after moving to defense to start with the absence of a couple regular Brunswick defenders.
The move paid off as Brooks scored two third-period goals in the Dragons’ 3-0 victory in the inaugural meeting with the Eagles.
Brunswick improved to 4-6 and visits Cheverus on Thursday, while the Eagles, in their first year of varsity competition, dropped to 0-10 despite playing their strongest game to date.
“You’re playing your rivals for the first time. There is a lot of emotion, and the game had a little bit of an edge to it,” said Bodwell, who reported Moroney was diagnosed with whiplash.
For Mt. Ararat and coach Ron Hutchins, whose Eagles host Winslow on Thursday, this loss stung, considering his team outshot Brunswick 17-14 and came within whiskers of its first victory.
“It was a great game, with the exception of about a minute-and-a-half,” said Hutchins. “We had a little bit of a letdown. This one hurts. Most of these girls grew up skating with those girls and know who they are. Seeing Rachel get hurt upset a lot of these girls as well. Yes, it’s hockey, but it was tough.”
Hutchins was pleased to see the continued improvement of goaltender Alison Nolan, who up until five weeks ago had never strapped on goaltender pads.
“If everybody could progress as well as our goalie, we would have a team of superstars,” said Hutchins after watching Nolan turn aside 11 tough shots. “Alison has come a long way. I can’t say enough good things about her.”
Brooks makes move
Brooks began the game as one of three Bodwell defenders, along with Grace Rabinowitz and Ashley Hartford. Her goal at 3:24 of the third period after a feed from Rabinowitz broke a scoreless deadlock, and Brooks made it 2-0 just over a minute later when her screened shot snuck through a crowd and into the net.
“There is never questioning Eliza’s effort,” said Bodwell. “We had to move her back up front because we really had nobody left who knew how to play center. We moved her up, and moved Gillian (Ford) back to defense.”
“I shot it and tried to get it on net, and everyone started screaming when it went in,” said Brooks of her second goal. “We showed a lot of diversity tonight. We were short anyway, and we were tired after two periods. The break helped, and we were able to pick it up again in the third period.
“It is nice to have this rivalry. It was different than playing other teams. You kind of grew up and played on travel teams with many of those girls. It was exciting to be a part of it.”
Ford’s goal at 6:15 of the final frame completed the scoring, with Tessa Cassidy picking up two assists on the night. Claire Mendes earned the shutout with 17 saves. She made three solid stops down the stretch on Mt. Ararat’s Nellie Hetherington, Devon Hutchins and Anne McIntire to preserve the shutout, while Nolan stopped Brooks on a breakaway late in regulation.
“In spite of all the adversity we had to go through, I have a locker room that is pretty happy right now,” said Bodwell.
Brunswick 3,
Mt. Ararat 0
At Sidney J. Watson Arena
Brunswick—003—3
Mt.Ararat—000—0
First period — No scoring. Penalty —
(MA) Devon Hutchins, body check, 3:34.
Second period — No scoring. No penalties. Third period — 1. (B) Eliza Brooks (Grace
Rabinowitz), 3:24; 2. (B) Eliza Brooks
(Tessa Cassidy), 4:25; 3. (B) Gillian Ford
(Tessa Cassidy), 6:15. Penalty — (B) Eliza
Brooks, hooking, 4:58.
Shots on goal — (B) 7-2-5—14; (MA) 5-
5-7—17.
Saves — (B) Claire Mendes 17; (MA) Alison Nolan 11.
Power play opportunities — Brunswick
0-1; Mt. Ararat 0-1.
Records — Brunswick 4-6, Mt. Ararat 0-
10.
Next — The Dragons visit Cheverus on
Thursday at 4 p.m., while the Eagles host
Winslow on Thursday at 4 p.m.
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