Masconomet falls in overtime to Woburn in state semifinal

By Joshua Boyd
jboyd@wickedlocal.com
The ending of the Division 1 state semifinal in girls hockey between Woburn and Masconomet could best be broken down by a physicist, or kinetics expert.

What was most at play, as the game was 3:03 into overtime, was constant motion becoming changed by the striking of an object (probably a Masco stick), and both direction and speed being altered.
The end result was a shot by Woburn’s Lily Mallard ended up in the back of the Masco net and the Tanners won the semifinal, 2-1, in overtime.

“If they were going to score, I’d rather they score a legit goal, not something tipped, but a goal is a goal,” said Masco head coach Ryan Sugar.

“You never really know how the puck’s going to bounce,” added Masco tri-captain Izzy Sarra. “That’s the tough thing about being a goalie. I think it’s definitely something for [Masco goalie Molly Elmore] being so young and playing at this caliber where there’s a lot of pressure to be something you may not be ready to be yet. She’s risen to the occasion every time, and she did tonight. Sometimes it doesn’t go your way.”

PHOTOS: Masco falls to Woburn, 2-1, in overtime
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Masconomet captain Izzy Sarra points at fans as she exits the ice after their MIAA Division 1 tournament game loss in overtime to Woburn, 2-1, at the O’Brien Rink in Woburn, Monday, March, 13, 2017. [Wicked Local Staff Photo / David Sokol] [Wicked Local Staff Photo / David Sokol]
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Sami Kelleher of Masconomet fights for the puck with Georgie Santullo of Woburn during their MIAA Division 1 tournament game loss in overtime, 2-1, at the O’Brien Rink in Woburn, Monday, March, 13, 2017. [Wicked Local Staff Photo / David Sokol] [Wicked Local Staff Photo / David Sokol]
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Abby Gendron of Masconomet controls the puck as she is trailed by Angie Moore of Woburn during their MIAA Division 1 tournament game loss in overtime, 2-1, at the O’Brien Rink in Woburn, Monday, March, 13, 2017. [Wicked Local Staff Photo / David Sokol] [Wicked Local Staff Photo / David Sokol]
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Anna Behringer of Masconomet chases after a loose puck with Katelind Ciavardone of Woburn during their MIAA Division 1 tournament game loss in overtime, 2-1, at the O’Brien Rink in Woburn, Monday, March, 13, 2017. [Wicked Local Staff Photo / David Sokol] [Wicked Local Staff Photo / David Sokol]
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Kate Irons of Masconomet and Angie Moore of Woburn both go after the puck during their MIAA Division 1 tournament game loss in overtime, 2-1, at the O’Brien Rink in Woburn, Monday, March, 13, 2017. [Wicked Local Staff Photo / David Sokol] [Wicked Local Staff Photo / David Sokol]
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Mikayla Vincent of Masconomet controls the puck as she is pressured by Emily Carpenter of Woburn during their MIAA Division 1 tournament game loss in overtime, 2-1, at the O’Brien Rink in Woburn, Monday, March, 13, 2017. [Wicked Local Staff Photo / David Sokol] [Wicked Local Staff Photo / David Sokol]
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Sami Kelleher of Masconomet controls the puck as she is pressured by Brianna Jewett of Woburn during their MIAA Division 1 tournament game loss in overtime, 2-1, at the O’Brien Rink in Woburn, Monday, March, 13, 2017. [Wicked Local Staff Photo / David Sokol] [Wicked Local Staff Photo / David Sokol]
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Masconomet players gather around goalie Molly Elmore after their MIAA Division 1 tournament game loss in overtime to Woburn, 2-1, at the O’Brien Rink in Woburn, Monday, March, 13, 2017. [Wicked Local Staff Photo / David Sokol] [Wicked Local Staff Photo / David Sokol]
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Masconomet captain Izzy Sarra points at fans as she exits the ice after their MIAA Division 1 tournament game loss in overtime to Woburn, 2-1, at the O’Brien Rink in Woburn, Monday, March, 13, 2017. [Wicked Local Staff Photo / David Sokol] [Wicked Local Staff Photo / David Sokol]
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Sami Kelleher of Masconomet fights for the puck with Georgie Santullo of Woburn during their MIAA Division 1 tournament game loss in overtime, 2-1, at the O’Brien Rink in Woburn, Monday, March, 13, 2017. [Wicked Local Staff Photo / David Sokol] [Wicked Local Staff Photo / David Sokol]
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Elmore, a freshman, played her usual strong game, making 33 saves on 35 shots.

“She played amazing all season long. Today, she stood on her head for us,” said Sugar. “[There was] a bad bounce on that tip, it didn’t work out. If that was a clean shot, she would have had it.”

Woburn peppered Elmore with 14 shots in the first period, while Masco could produce just four shots. However, it was the Chieftains that ended up getting on the board first.

“I told them [in the first intermission] they need to step up now, and they stepped right out in the second period and put a goal in quickly,” said Sugar.
Lexi Rosenbaum found Sarra in front of the net. Sarra got one backhand on, Woburn’s Katelind Ciavardone made the save, and then Sarra backhanded in the rebound for a 1-0 lead just 52 seconds into the second period. Rachael Duval also earned an assist on the goal.

“Keep digging until that light goes on, that’s all I ask for,” said Sugar.

“It was very lucky, and very tenacious poking on my end,” said Sarra, of her goal. “Just shove a lot. It’s a lot of shoving. It’s always a good feeling to get [on the board] first, especially. It definitely got the momentum going forward. It was pretty sloppy in the first. Sometimes you don’t get the right kickstart, but we got the momentum early in the second.”

A pair of Masco penalties about four minutes later snapped some of that momentum, and even gave Woburn a 5-on-3 advantage for 22 seconds. Irons and Sarra both made key shot blocks to minimize the pressure on Elmore. Masco killed those two penalties.

Sarra and Sami Kelleher both made key picks as well, turning those turnovers into offensive opportunities.

“Every single person on this team gave me 100 percent. I couldn’t say anything bad about anyone on this team,” added Sugar. “The past few games all they’ve been doing is blocking a ton of shots, the forwards and defense. Anything Molly sees, she’s stopping, but defensively we played a hell of a game. It didn’t work out in the end.”

Woburn got on the board for the first time at 5:49 of the third period.
Junior forward Maddie Russo got a clean look at the net, and was able to wrist the puck into the top right corner on the power play. Mallard and Georgie Santullo had the assists.

Both Woburn’s Marissa Gregory and Masco’s Riane Vatcher made important shot blocks in the final seconds of regulation to send the game into the extra session, which was played with four skaters and goalie per side.

“The 4-on-4 gave me an opportunity to mix up some people in the overtime to see what works. We couldn’t get the puck out of our zone,” added Sugar.

“I think I’ll feel OK,” said Sarra. “I know that everyone wanted it as bad as they possibly could. In terms of emptying the bucket, we always have a little more to give, and maybe it wasn’t given tonight.”

Masco finished 12-9-3, including its 3-1 state tournament stand. This was a team that had to get a win in its final two games. They went into the Newburyport Bank Classic in late February after a five-game winless streak, but they took care of business and got the two points they needed against a Winthrop co-op team that beat the Chieftains 3-2 to start off that streak. Once they got into the tournament, they just rolled for three classic games.

“I couldn’t be prouder of the legacy my class and this team have left on this program, and that we have left with the upcoming generations of players,” said Sarra. “It’s bittersweet knowing that my season is ending, but it’s fantastic knowing that we were the trailblazers for what’s to come.”

“With the preseason, we just played our 28th game of the season,” added Coach Sugar. “Obviously, this stings, especially for the seniors, this is it for them. They came out, and gave everything. Nobody expected us to be where we are right now. It was an incredible run. I’m just proud of everyone on this team.”

EMPTYING THE BUCKET: Masco girls gave their all in overtime loss to Woburn

By Matt Williams Staff writer

  

 

  

WOBURN — It was going to take a puck with eyes.

With a trip to the Division 1 state final at TD Garden at stake and every player for both underdog Masconomet and favored Woburn leaving every bit of themselves on the ice in sudden death overtime, there was no way the tiebreaking goal would hit the back of the net cleanly.

After 4:03 of extra time, Woburn’s Lily Mallard unleashed a high blast that ticked off two Chieftain sticks on its way to sneaking inside the crossbar to send the Tanners past Masconomet, 2-1, in a thrilling state semifinal Monday at O’Brien Rink.

The No. 3 seed Tanners (20-2-2) scored the last two goals of the game to outlast Masconomet (12-9-3), an upstart No. 18 seed that made the best playoff run in the program’s 15-year history.

The Cinderella story came to a close despite a near heroic 37-save effort in net from freshman Molly Elmore.

“I think I feel OK because I know everyone on our team wanted it as badly as they possibly could have,” said Masconomet senior captain Izzy Sarra. “It’s an emotionally and physically exhausting game, and that comes with a lot of pressure. You always feel like you have a little more to give, but we didn’t leave much out there.”

Sarra’s goal just 52 seconds into the second period put Masconomet on the scoreboard first. As Elmore stopped the first 30 shots she faced, it seemed like the single tally might stand up. But Woburn cashed in on its fifth power play of the game with 9:11 left in the third to draw even.

“I knew one goal wasn’t going to be enough,” said first-year Masconomet head coach Ryan Sugar. “Woburn’s an amazing team. They were expected to be here and we weren’t, but our kids played amazing. We just couldn’t hold on.”

Early in overtime (contested 4-on-4), Elmore made a strong pad save on Woburn sniper Georgie Santullo (37 goals on the year). Sarra steamed the other way, made an inside-outside move around a defender and nearly won it, only to be denied by Tanner goalie Katlind Caivardone (21 saves).

In part due to 10 power plays in regulation (5 for each side), both teams were exhausted in overtime. Woburn won an offensive zone draw with 4 minutes to go, and Mallard’s bomb snuck in at 4:03 to end it.

“I was hoping for a shootout by the end,” Sugar said. “That goal ticked off a couple of sticks. If it was clean, Molly would’ve stopped it. We knew coming in that it would be our toughest game … and it didn’t go our way.”

Woburn had the better of the play in the first period, with Elmore making 12 saves to help her team escape at 0-0. The Chieftains came out on fire in the second, with Sarra getting free in the slot after strong cycling by Mikayla Vincent on the opening shift. Her initial bid saved, Sarra got a stick under the goalie’s pad for her 19th goal of the season.

“Very lucky and very tenacious,” Sarra said of her goal. “It was a lot of shoving.”

Assisted by Mikayla Vincent and defenseman Lexi Rosenbaum, the goal was a classic Sarra tally, Sugar said: “She keeps digging until that light goes on.”

Senior defensemen Madi Brooke and Duval barely left the ice in the third period and overtime for Masconomet. Duval was credited with seven of her team’s 17 blocked shots and both mainstays gave all their heart and bodies in their efforts to hold down Woburn’s attack.

“Both of them, it’s 100 percent every time they touch the ice,” said Sugar. “I had to shorten things up at the end, and they played a ton and never let up.”

Woburn’s tying goal came off the stick of Maddi Russo with 9:11 left in the third while on the power play. The Chieftains had killed off 23 seconds of Tanner 5-on-3 time only two minutes prior and couldn’t cash in on their own advantage in the short time between calls.

Back on the advantage, the Tanners got the puck quickly across the ice to a free Russo for the tying score.

Woburn had the better of the chances over the final seven minutes, though Masconomet’s Abby Gendron got free for two looks at the net that were saved. Sami Kelleher (8 faceoff wins) also had a strong game for the Chieftains, along with linemate Kate Irons.

“We just played our 28th game including scrimmages. Obviously, this stings,” said Sugar. “They came out and gave everything they had, so I’m proud of them. It was an incredible run.”

Though Masconomet fell short of the state final at TD Garden (where Woburn will face Needham Sunday), the team’s three playoff wins are more than any other club in program history … and, in fact, more than many in the history of their league.

Graduating seven seniors — Sarra, Brooke, Duval, Lily O’Grady, Olivia Nieves, Sophia Nieves and Mackenzie Saitta — Masconomet left the ice with much to be proud of.

“I couldn’t be prouder of my class’ legacy and the year we had,” said Sarra. “It’s bittersweet knowing my season and my career are ending, but it’s fantastic knowing that we’re trail blazers for what’s to come for this team.”

Woburn 2, Masconomet 1 (OT)

Division 1 state semifinal

at O’Brien Rink, Woburn

Masconomet 0 1 0 0 — 1

Woburn 0 0 1 1 — 2

First period: No scoring.

Second period: M, Izzy Sarra (Rachael Duval, Lexi Rosenbaum), :52.

Third period: W, Maddie Russo (Georgie Santullo, Lily Mallard), ppg, 5:49.

Overtime: W, Mallard (Brianna Jewett), 4:03.

Saves: M, Molly Elmore 37; W, Katelind Ciavardone 21.

Records: M, 12-9-3; W, 20-2-2.

Freshman goalie Elmore keys Masconomet’s incredible run to girls hockey state semis

By Matt Williams Staff writer Mar 13, 2017

Freshman goalie Molly Elmore is a big part of the team’s “protect the house” defensive mentality. She had more than 300 saves this season. Jim Vaiknoras/Staff photo

The first time she saw goalie pads, Molly Elmore wanted to climb into the crease and try her luck stopping pucks.

She was only eight years old and whether is was on the ice or on the concrete floor of her basement, nothing was going to stop her from making saves.

“I remember my parents said ‘Nah, maybe next year.’ So I went to my basement, put on all my gear, threw the ball at the wall and saved it when it came back at me. I did that for hours and hours,” Elmore recalled.

“And when I was 11 and I played my first year in net, it blew my mind how much I loved it.”

Now the freshman mainstay for the Masconomet girls co-op team, Elmore’s ability to stay clam under pressure and make huge saves is what’s blowing the minds of her Chieftain teammates and their fans.

Riding the hot hand of their young goalie, No. 18 seed Masconomet (12-8-3) is in the Division 1 state semifinals for the first time in program history. They face host Woburn (19-2-2) Monday at O’Brien Rink at 5 p.m., with the winner advancing to the state finals next Sunday at TD Garden in Boston.

“Molly’s been incredible,” said senior captain Madi Brooke, one of Masconomet’s staunch defensemen. “She’s composed. She’s got skill and the mentality for the position. She’s always yelling at us on the ice and telling us where to be.”

Elmore has posted some impressive numbers this season. She’s 12-7-2 and has played 900 minutes, allowing only 1.95 goals per game. Her 503 saves are the second-highest total in program history for a single season, and her .930 save percentage is among the best in the state.

“She’s been our backbone,” said first-year Chieftains head coach Ryan Sugar. “To do what she’s done as a freshman? It’s incredible.”

It’s not easy stepping into a big role as a first-year player. It’s even tougher on a co-operative team as girls from five different schools try to get to know one another.

Coming from Newburyport, Elmore made the Clippers’ varsity soccer team last fall, and those relationships helped her hockey transition along.

“I knew Sami Kelleher and she helped a lot with meeting new people,” Elmore said. “I came in a little nervous and scared about playing with older kids, not knowing how the high school game would be. But it’s been such an amazing experience with everyone supporting me no matter if I have a good game or a bad game.”

For Elmore, there have been far more good games over the course of the 2016-17 season.

She has 4 1/2 shutouts (one of those was shared with senior MacKenzie Saitta) and has been at the top of her game in the state tournament. Elmore held Quincy to one goal in the opening round, made 41 saves to knock off second-ranked Beverly and followed that up by holding defending state champion Austin Prep to one goal in the state quarters.

“We’ve been the underdogs in every game and didn’t know how far we could go,” said Elmore. “It’s been an unbelievable run so far. And playing in front these big crowds? Our fans make us feel like we’re knocking it out of the park.”

Elmore is a strong butterfly-style goalkeeper who has a knack for controlling rebounds. It’s nearly impossible to knock the puck free once she gets a pad or a glove on it, and she has a tendency to stop every puck she can see. She also doesn’t get rattled, making some 10-bell saves last week against Beverly even after the Panthers rallied to get a 4-3 lead in the third period.

“She’s one of the most competitive kids I’ve ever been around,” captain Izzy Sarra said.

Outstanding in 1-on-1 battles, Elmore made four stops in the five-round shootout to beat rival Beverly (which was Masconomet’s first win over the Panthers in 17 tries going all the way back to 2009).

“Molly actually loves shootouts. She’s crazy,” said Brooke. “She was happy to get in the shootout, and it was great to see her get those saves. We were all so excited and proud of her for doing that.”

The Chieftains have a tremendous senior defensive pair in Brooke and fellow senior Rachael Duval; they’re essentially what the Zdeno Chara-Dennis Seidenberg pair meant to the 2011 Stanley Cup champion Bruins. Young blue liners Riane Vatcher, Gianna Conte and Anna Behringer have been strong as well; as a team, Masco can defend with their backs to the goal because they trust Elmore to make the easy saves.

The Red-and-White call it protecting the house. They do it as well as any guard dog or home security system.

“My defense has been so great this year,” Elmore said. “I trust them no matter what and we communicate really well.”

The Chieftains have embraced an “empty the bucket” mentality in these playoffs. It’s brought them to the brink of history — and they have a rock between the pipes to cover up any breakdowns.

“Everyone gives energy. Even when the legs are dead, they keep pushing,” said Elmore. “When you see the players in front of you keep pushing and pushing like that, you can’t help but makes the saves for them.”

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How tall is Masconomet’s task of upending Woburn? The Tanners are 19-2-2 and outscoring their opponents, 104-26. They were unbeaten over their first 17 games and boast one of the state’s leading scorers in Georgie Santullo (37-plus goals).

It won’t be a totally unfamiliar foe for the Chieftains, however. The teams scrimmaged each other in early December.

Interestingly, the last time a seed lower than Masconomet’s No. 18 made the state semis was in 2010, when Woburn made it that far as a 22-seed. The Tanners made it to TD Garden that year but fell to St. Mary’s of Lynn in the final; they’re seeking their first state final since then, while Masconomet is eyeing its first-ever trip.

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Looking for an unsung hero for this Masconomet group? Look no further than junior winger Lexi Rosenbaum. Since returning to the ice after missing a chunk of time with an injury, Rosenbaum has given the team a significant scoring boost. She has points in all three playoff wins and her seven goals rank fifth on the club, no small feat considering the number of game’s she’s played.

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A few nuggets: Sarra’s 90 career points are now second on the Chieftains’ all-time scoring list … Prior to this season, the Chieftains had only won one state playoff game in their 14 varsity seasons; this year’s group has tripled that with three playoff wins … Masconomet is the third team in Northeastern Hockey League history to advance to a state final four, joining Marblehead’s 2008 Division 2 squad and Winthrop’s 2011 Division 1 entrant; A victory Monday would make Masco the first team in league history to reach a state championship game.

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Keep eye on the first goal Monday night. Masconomet is 11-0-1 this season when they score first.

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Newburyport Daily News sports editor Dan Harrison contributed to this story. Be sure to follow Matt Williams on Twitter @MattWilliams_SN for live updates from Monday night’s game.

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Cohesive defensive pairings drives Masconomet into state semis

By Dan Harrison Staff writer Mar 11, 2017

  

There is no substitute for good chemistry.

Teams need just the right level of cohesion to make a big playoff run, and in the sport of hockey, successful defensive pairings need to gel in order to lock-down against the talented forwards, who are more and more explosive the deeper a team makes it into the tournament.

For the Masconomet girls, the two go hand-in-hand.

The Chieftains have pulled off an impressive postseason streak, winning three games en route to Monday’s Division 1 state semifinal against Woburn. One of the ingredients at the top of the list of coach Ryan Sugar’s formula for success is the effort and execution of his blue liners.

“Our defense has a lot of great chemistry,” said senior Rachael Duval, who is paired up with senior captain Madi Brooke as Masco’s top tandem. “We’ve gotten to learn how our partners play and where the pucks are going. A huge part of defense is knowing your partner really well.”

So how well do Duval and Brooke know each other?

Considering the two girls have been playing hockey together since the age of eight, there aren’t many things that can happen on the ice that the duo isn’t prepared to handle together. It was a pass across the point from Duval to Brooke that led to one of the goals against AP, and in the shootout against Beverly, Sugar called on Brooke to take one of the five attempts and the senior lit the lamp.

The two Masconomet schoolmates were named Northeast Hockey League all-stars with all-league honors going to Duval.

“We’ve literally grown up playing hockey together,” Brooke said of playing with Duval. “I know Rachael so well. I know everything about her game and she knows everything about me. We know each other and where we’re going to be.”

Along with the great chemistry, preparation has been vital in terms of knowing the tendencies of opposing teams and their top forwards. Whether it’s who has the most dangerous shot, or where a certain forward is likely to carry the puck, Duval, Brooke and the rest of the girls on the back end know their opponents inside and out.

A big part of the strategy is keeping the middle of the ice clean and clearing rebounds away from the crease area after freshman netminder Molly Elmore makes the initial save; which is something she’s done time and again during the playoffs.

Executing the game plan comes down to smarts and effort, and with seniors like Duval and Brooke, there is nothing the girls won’t do to get the job done.

“Especially for us seniors who have never made it this far, knowing every game could be our last 45 minutes on the ice is definitely a big motivation for us,” said Brooke. “All the underclassmen feel it too … To be able to be underdogs and beat all these teams no one thought we could beat as an 18 seed is bringing us all together.”

As for the other D pairing Sugar has been rolling with, Triton sophomores Riane Vatcher and Anna Behringer as well as Triton freshman Gianna Conte have been mixed and matched, and whatever grouping Sugar goes with, it’s been working brilliantly.

The team allowed just one goal against Quincy before beating No. 2 Beverly and then holding defending state champion Austin Prep to just a goal in Tuesday’s 3-1 triumph.

“Rachael and Madi are probably the most dominant defensive pair in our league. They’re both big players who can skate, move the puck and shoot,” said Sugar. “Riane plays on the second pair rotating in Anna and Gianna. Riane has a ton of speed and Anna and Gianna are two, solid defensemen. Those three right there are our future for the next year or two as well.”

Nobody in the locker room is thinking beyond Monday evening in Woburn.

Well, that isn’t entirely true. Playing in the TD Garden, which is where the state final will take place, is too alluring a prospect not to pop into the Chieftains’ minds.

“I’ve been talking about this with my dad for three days. Making it to a final in the Garden would be a dream come true. Every time I talk about it my cheeks get swollen and I start smiling,” said Duval. “It would be historical for us as a team to make it to the Garden and prove seeds are truly just numbers. And Masco girls hockey is something to talk about. I think it would be enormous for us as a program.

SARRA SETS THE TONE

Newburyport senior, Masco girls hockey have taken the D1 tourney by storm
By Dan Harrison Sports Editor

Teams have a way of adopting the attitude of their leaders.

Masconomet girls hockey captain Izzy Sarra definitely has a knack for putting the puck in the back of the net, considering her 90 career points are second in program history. But unlike some prolific goal-scorers, the forward’s most unsung character trait on the ice is her willingness to battle in the corners.

It doesn’t matter the size or strength of the opponent, the Newburyport senior never backs down from a challenge — and this postseason, with Sarra leading the way, the Chieftains have been giant killers.

“It’s amazing. I don’t have the words to describe it. It’s so humbling, but also at same the time, so incredible,” Sarra said of winning three playoff games including triumph’s over second-seeded Beverly and seventh-seeded Austin Prep.

“The fact that we’re really going out with bang, at least for me at the end of my (high school) career, there’s no better way to end it than in this way with these girls.”

As the No. 18 seed in the bracket, Masco (12-8-3) will head to Woburn Monday to face the third-seeded Tanners (19-2-2).

The playoffs were far from a certainty for Sarra’s crew, who didn’t qualify for the tournament until the second to last game of the season. Now that the Chieftains are in the dance, they’re making the most of the opportunity.

When it came to setting the tone for the Cinderella run, it was Sarra leading the way as she potted four goals in the opening round victory over Quincy.

“When the fourth goal went in, to see the smile on her face, that set the tone for the tournament for the entire team,” Masco head coach Ryan Sugar said of Sarra.

“She’s a powerful skater who digs hard and she has a good shot. She’s a strong athlete all around … and she transfers that onto skates. She goes into the corner and nobody wants to go in there with her … She doesn’t stop playing until the final buzzer and if I can get that out of everybody on the team it’s a great thing to have.”

A four-year varsity player, Sarra and the Chieftains had been one-and-done in the tournament every year until this winter.

But that’s not to say the senior doesn’t have the mark of a champion. After all, she was the goalie for the Newburyport girls lacrosse team that won the Division 2 state championship during Sarra’s freshman season. So she knows what it takes to cut it in a win-or-go-home kind of atmosphere.

“You have to take care of your mind before you can take care of your body. You have to be patient with yourself. It’ never going to come easily. The playoffs are the playoffs for a reason. You’re playing the best of the best, but you also have to keep in the back of your mind that you are one of the best and you have to build off that,” said Sarra.

“You have to cherish where you’re going and where you’re coming from. I’m not going to be doing this next year, so I have to empty the bucket while I still have the chance.”

Sarra’s bucket is filled with a lot of game pucks.

In her four seasons with the red-and-white, the power forward with soft hands has scored a remarkable 54 goals and dished out 36 assists, and this winter marks her second-straight 30-point season as she has lit the lamp 18 times to go with 13 helpers.

The 91 career points, and her place in Chieftain lore is only part of what makes the milestone special. Sarra is a player young female skaters can look to and think ‘one day, that could be me.’

“It’s crazy to think of the people that have come before me and the people who are going to come after me,” Sarra said when asked about her mark on the program.

“Building this sport is so important to me and to be able to represent girls hockey. People don’t give it the credibility it deserves. Because this sport is incredibly trying, the fact I was able to make that statement is crazy to me.”

The skill set is only amplified by Sarra’s mental make up.

Sugar says he’s amazed by the way his captain rallies after the opposition scores a goal, and that nothing seems to throw her off her game.

Port girls lax skipper Catherine Batchelder thought so highly of Sarra that she named her a captain last year as just a junior. And the feeling is one shared by coach and teammates alike.

“I love Izzy. I enjoy playing with her so much I wish I could play with her year round. I never get sick of her,” said junior forward Sami Kelleher, who also plays lacrosse with Sarra at Newburyport. “She was my captain last year in lacrosse and this year in hockey and she’s an amazing captain. She always keeps the spirit up on the team and makes us play to the best of our ability.”

The Chieftains will all need to be playing their best hockey if they’re going to take down the Tanners on their home ice, and look for Sarra to establish the pace early for Sugar’s group.

After all, a win Monday would give Sarra and the Chieftains the chance to skate on the most hallowed sheet of ice in all of New England.

“It’s such a staple of the Massachusetts and New England culture,” Sarra said of the TD Garden. “That place has such a huge affiliation with the greats — and I want to be one of those.”