Kennally’s Goal Helps Nauset-Monomoy Tie Notre Dame Academy

dule for this season, he wanted the Warriors co-op program to be tested against the Bay State’s best.

 On Saturday afternoon, Nauset-Monomoy proved it’s among the best. 

 Despite falling behind early, the Warriors skated to a 1-1 tie against nonleague foe Notre Dame Academy-Hingham after Nauset freshman Maeve Kennally netted a game-tying goal at the end of the second period and the teams couldn’t decide a winner during a 5-minute 4-on-4 overtime.

 “It’s really a dig-in mentality,” Wells said. “If you asked the team a week ago after coming off a couple of losses, they probably would’ve said NDA would beat us. They are the number one team in the state — rightfully so, they are a very good team — but I just left the locker room like, ‘Are we awake now? You guys can play with any team.’ 

“That experience alone is a good message moving forward.”

Kennally netted the equalizer with 1.7 seconds remaining in the second period to even the score for Nauset (4-3-1) after freshman Jocelyn Gray gave NDA (3-1-1) an early lead with 5:06 remaining in the first period. 

Nauset senior Carly Brand assisted on the goal after sending a forwarding pass from deep inside the Warriors’ zone to Kennally at the far blue line. The freshman collected the puck and broke free before roofing a wrist shot glove side.

“Maeve is a very, very skilled player,” Wells said. “When her mind is in the game, she can be very effective. She works hard, she’s strong, and she can shoot pucks. She’s a very skilled player — for Carly to find her was electric.”

The goal was a display of Brand’s athleticism and her ability to make an impact regardless of her positioning on the ice. The senior has been a star forward for the Warriors but was playing defense while juniors Lilli Peck and Callie Murphy nurse injuries.

“(Brand) just gives us a little more maturity, someone who can play both sides of the puck, and someone who has a great shot from the point,” Wells said. “We had three eighth-grade defensemen playing and one sophomore, so Carly adds a little bit of depth back there.”

Nauset sophomore goaltender Ava O’Connell made 27 saves in the draw, including stops on each of the five shots she faced in overtime. She was at her best in the extra frame, especially when she used her facemask to make a crucial save with just over a minute remaining.

“Ava was rock solid today,” Wells said. “Before the game, I looked at her and said, ‘Let’s just have some fun. There’s really no pressure on you, just get dialed in.’”

 Although Wells and the Warriors would have preferred to leave Rockland with a victory, tying NDA felt like a momentum builder for the squad considering it was shorthanded and coming off back-to-back losses to North Andover (4-1) and Canton (3-1).

“For the group to show up and show what they did today, that mentality is everything,” Wells said. “We can play with the best teams and we should be the best team.”