BOSTON — Teagan Beigel was due.
The Boston Jr. Eagles were pressing for a goal late in the third period, down 2-1 to the Connecticut Polar Bears, and Beigel's (Natick, Mass.) line was generating its share of chances.
After Caroline Kreuz (Worcester, Mass.) gained the offensive zone and went to work on the forecheck with Maddie Allen behind the net, the puck found Beigel in the slot, and she scored with a seeing-eye backhander with two minutes to go in regulation to secure a 2-2 tie.
It was a crucial answer for the Jr. Eagles after the Polar Bears scored in the closing seconds of the second period and the opening moments of the third to take a 2-1 lead quickly.
Brooke Schlutter tied it, 1-1, with 1.6 seconds to go in the second with a shorthanded goal. Victoire Devillers made it 2-1 three minutes into the third, taking advantage of a Jr. Eagles miscue.
Allen also found the back of the net for the Jr. Eagles, opening the scoring early in the first.
Let's dive into eight standouts from the thriller.
Teagan Beigel
Boston Jr. Eagles/Dexter Southfield, 2010, F, left shot
Hometown: Natick, Mass.
Beigel's line with Kreuz and Allen was the Jr. Eagles' most consistently effective line throughout the game. They were strong forechecking and gaining the offensive zone with possession, and they generated plenty of chances as the third period went on. Beigel was nearly automatic on draws, leading to good chances for her linemates, especially Kreuz, off face-off plays. The former was also strong as a puck-carrier throughout the game, playing with her head up and navigating the neutral zone. Before her goal, she had a quality chance with a drag-snap shot from the top of the right circle off the rush. A few moments later, she was in the right place at the right time in the high slot, wasting no time and putting a backhand on net that found a way through.
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Brooke Schlutter
Conn. Polar Bears/Williston Northampton, 04/2009, F, right shot, 5-5
Hometown: Ladera Ranch, Calif.
NCAA: Cornell
Schlutter was speedy and dynamic throughout the game and was the focal point of the Polar Bears' attack. She showcased smooth hands with some sweet dangles and got a ton of power on her wrist shots. In the first, she had a slick, no-look pass to Keira Gould crashing the net in front off a power-play cycle. In the second, Schlutter broke through with a great shorthanded effort. She won a race to the puck just inside the offensive blue line, getting a step on the defender. She closed and ripped a wrister from the right dot, scoring five-hole as she fell with 1.6 seconds left in the frame. Schlutter, who recently committed to Cornell, is an electric, high-tempo player, and she could be in line for an even bigger year at Williston.
Maddie Allen
Boston Jr. Eagles/St. Paul's, 2009, F, right shot
Hometown: Washington, D.C.
Allen used her size effectively, protecting the puck well and making an impact on the forecheck and in battles low in the offensive zone. It paid off when she opened the scoring when the puck went off her leg and in as she battled in front. In the second, she hung back to cover for the defense and ended up defending a 1-on-1 with Quinn Toll. It looked like a mismatch, but Allen did a good job with her stick to prevent a quality shot in the slot. Allen was also key to the Jr. Eagles' late push for an equalizer. She had two strong chances off a face-off win, trying to go short-side before bullying her way to the loose puck for a wraparound bid. Later, Allen and Kreuz came through down low on the forecheck to work the puck to Beigel in the slot before she tied it.
Scarlet Robertson
Conn. Polar Bears/Loomis Chaffee, 10/25/10, F, left shot, 4-11
Hometown: Fairfield, Conn.
Robertson was a pest all game. She played with high energy for the Polar Bears and created problems for the Eagles. She was strong in battles, despite some size mismatches, and brought a ton of compete on every shift. Robertson got a quality chance in the second period. She forced a turnover in the neutral zone, leading to good forechecking pressure for the Polar Bears, before a loose puck shot out in front off a Jr. Eagles miscue. Robertson nearly cashed in as she went hard to the front of the net, but her backhand jam wouldn't go.
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Victoire Devillers
Conn. Polar Bears/Choate, 2010, F, left shot
Hometown: Darien, Conn.
Devillers scored a beauty to give the Polar Bears a 2-1 lead early in the third. She stole the puck from Emma Burke (Braintree, Mass.) just outside the offensive zone. Devillers drove in and got a step on Vanessa Hall (Saugus, Mass.), protecting the puck as she drove to the slot before chipping it home glove-side. It was a nice finish to a terrific effort from Devillers.
Layla Smart
Boston Jr. Eagles/Tabor, 11/24/09, D, right shot, 5-5
Hometown: Boston, Mass.
Smart was a steady presence on the blue line for the Jr. Eagles, making good plays in all situations. She defended a 1-on-1 against Schlutter perfectly in the first, keeping a good gap and easily poke-checking her just inside the blue line to prevent a chance. In the second, Smart got a couple of chances in a bang-bang play. She led a good rush through the neutral zone, taking advantage of time and space. She put a hard shot on net from distance before crashing the net and nearly putting home her own rebound.
Chloe Rabazzi
Boston Jr. Eagles/Dexter Southfield, 9/2/2010, D, left shot
Hometown: Burlington, Mass.
Rabazzi and Maggie Chudzinski (Needham, Mass.) were excellent as a pair together for the Jr. Eagles, moving the puck quickly and extending plays out high in the attacking zone. Rabazzi made some good decisions to pinch and keep the Polar Bears hemmed into the zone. Throughout the game, she played a patient game with the puck. She never rushed and did a good job of letting passing lanes unfold whenever she had time and space.
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Nadia Smith
Conn. Polar Bears/Berkshire, Class of 2028, F, right shot, 5-2
Hometown: Whites Lake, NS
Smith played a detailed game in all three zones and took advantage of some Jr. Eagles turnovers. On a key penalty kill with the Jr. Eagles looking to double their lead in the first, Smith did a good job to hound the puck-carrier along the boards before pouncing on a turnover and getting a clear. In the third, with the Polar Bears protecting their lead, Smith benefitted from another turnover, jumping on a loose puck in the neutral zone before driving in 1-on-1 and getting an offensive zone draw. She later got a great look driving into the slot after Elyse Harris and Sophia DiGiola combined on the forecheck. Smith also drew a trip in a battle with Allen in the first, giving the Polar Bears a key power-play opportunity after falling behind early.
