VIDEO: Caroline Batchelder scores in Archies girls hockey playoff win
The junior forward converted in the second period for a 3-0 lead in what became a 4-0 Archies win over Belmont/Watertown in the Div. 1 Elite Eight.
KINGSTON – Of the 66 total teams that qualified for the MIAA girls hockey playoffs, 17 finished the regular season with more losses than wins.
One of those things was not like the others, though.
That would be Archbishop Williams.
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The other 16 sub-.500 clubs all have finished their playoff runs, having combined for a predictably poor 4-16 record. Meanwhile, Archies is still going strong with three postseason wins and counting. The latest was Thursday night’s thorough 4-0 victory over No. 14 Belmont/Watertown in the Div. 1 quarterfinals at The Bog Ice Arena.
Archies had a tough act to follow, taking the ice after Falmouth had beaten Canton in a double-overtime instant classic. The Bishops’ game had comparatively little drama as coach Doug Nolan’s team rode a pair of goals from freshman Catherine Lacey, of Braintree, back into the semifinals.
No. 11 Archies (12-10-2) will face No. 2 St. Mary’s-Lynn (21-3-1) in Sunday’s next round (details TBA).
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The Bishops’ sub-.500 regular season was deceiving since they started 1-6. They’re 11-4-2 since then and have steeled themselves by playing virtually every other top team in the state. Consider that eight of their losses came against teams that earned top-10 seeds in either the Division 1 or Division 2 tournament.
The MIAA power ranking formula loved them – no other sub-.500 team was seeded as high – and they’ve proven to be more than legit.
“We put together a tough schedule and we challenged these kids every day,” Nolan said. “Obviously, it wasn’t ideal starting off 1-6, but we knew we were getting better and better, week by week, month by month, game by game. You have to have trust in the process.”
Archbishop Williams’ 2023 playoff run ended in the semis. A No. 1 seed back then, they fell to Canton, 1-0, on a late goal to finish 19-4-1. Now they’re back as a cleverly disguised underdog.
“These kids battled through some tough times and we got on them a little bit, but they stuck together,” Nolan said. “They enjoy each other’s company. Last year we might have been a little more talented, but these girls love being with…
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