Boston can’t hold onto lead
Boston held a one-goal lead and a commanding 21-9 shots advantage through two periods.
But two third-period penalties proved costly, as host Toronto scored a pair of power-play goals in the final period to capture a 2-1 win over Boston during Professional Women’s Hockey League action Wednesday before a crowd of 2,525 at the Mattamy Athletic Center in Toronto.
Sidney Morin gave Boston a 1-0 lead with a power-play strike at 11:21 of the opening period. But penalties to Lexie Adzija (tripping) and Sophie Shirley (hit to head) put Toronto on the power play twice in the third and the hosts capitalized both times.
Renata Fast tallied at 2:14 and Natalie Spooner scored at 7:05 for the game-winning goal. It was Spooner’s 13th of the season. Erica Howe was strong between the pipes for Toronto. Emma Soderberg made 19 saves for Boston.
College track
HUGE HONOR FOR DOYLE >> Graduate student Kenzie Doyle (Swansea) of the Umass Lowell women’s track & field team has been named the America East Female Track & Field Performer of the Year.
Doyle had a stellar indoor season for the River Hawks, and it all started at the BU Sharon Colyear-danville Season Opener on Dec. 2 when she broke the UML record in the 5K with a personal-best 15:27.42 mark. That time was good for 10th place against some fierce competition and qualified her for the 2024 NCAA Division I Indoor Track & Field Championships.
She then went on to break her personal record in the mile at the BU John Thomas Terrier Classic, earning a time of 4:41.20, followed by another personal-best in the 3K weeks later at the BU David Hemery Valentine Invitational (9:11.82).
At the 2024 America East Championships, Doyle became the America East champion in three events. First, she won the women’s 5K race in 16:12.40, finishing first for the second consecutive year. The next day, she competed in the 3K and mile races, winning both and her second consecutive 3K indoor championship. Her 9:22.05 mark in the 3K gave her the victory by more than four seconds, while she crossed the finish line first in the mile in 4:44.46.
CAMARA HONORED >> The 2023-24 Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) Winter Sportsmanship Teams were announced by the league office as 30 MASCAC student-athletes were recognized.
Among the sportsmanship honorees was Fitchburg State senior Makany Camara (Lowell) of the women’s indoor track team.