Hockey Coverage, presented by Natalie Marsh:
Ash, Connelly Lead Westwood Past Stoneham

February 25, 2026
 
On Wednesday night, after two days of digging out from a powerful winter storm, the puck finally dropped on the MIAA Round of 32 as No. 1 Westwood hosted No. 32 Stoneham.
 
With no common opponents and both teams coming off more than a week without game action, there was early rust to shake off. Once the nerves settled, Westwood quickly took control — dominating both possession and shot volume from start to finish.
 
All three Wolverine lines generated sustained pressure, but the story of the night was Stoneham freshman goalie Juliana Iozza, who delivered a remarkable 52-save performance to keep the game within reach. In addition to Iozza, the Stoneham defense was stifling, blocking shots and deflecting any shot attempts around the triangle, keeping Westwood predominantly at a distance from the net with the shots for much of the game.
 
Westwood broke through by doing what great teams do in the postseason — crashing the net. Both goals came off second-chance opportunities, with players following their shots and capitalizing on rebounds. Maggie Ash opened the scoring in the first period, and Justine Connelly added an insurance goal late in the second.
 
Behind the offense was another strong defensive effort. Fallon Campbell, Erin Carolan, Ciara Shevory, Delia Joyce, and Olivia Alex controlled angles, executed clean breakouts, and limited Stoneham’s opportunities through the neutral zone. Avery Hughes also contributed key defensive shifts to help close things out.
 
Goaltender Jennifer Lin faced a unique challenge — long stretches without action followed by high-quality chances. She remained composed throughout, making timely saves when needed to secure her 11th shutout of the season.
 
With the 2–0 victory, Westwood advances to the Round of 16 and will face the winner of Dedham vs. Martha’s Vineyard.