After having found themselves pushing as far as one of the final eight teams in the Division 2 Girls State Hockey Tournament, Auburn is looking to push the envelope further and advance deeper into the post-season this winter. Auburn finished lasty year with a 13-3-5 record to secure an eight seed in the tournament and after defeating Longmeadow and Falmouth the Rockets were faced with an undaunting task of playing the number one seed in Westwood. Unfortunately, this is where their season came to an end with a 3-2 loss to the Wolverines.

Coach Katie Mason would love nothing more than to win a State Championship this year, but she knows that her players need to stay focused and continue to work hard on and off the ice.

“The incoming goal this year was to build a strong foundation on the ice as well as off it,” she said. “I believe that if we can build a team bond off the ice then we should be able to bring that spirit to the ice. If we can do that then we will be able to have a successful season.”

At the time of this writing the Rockets were having a very successful season. Auburn found themselves undefeated at 12-0-2 with their two ties coming at the hands of Acton-Boxborough and Dennis Yarmouth. Over those 14 games Auburn has scored 53 goals while only allowing the opposition to net 17.

Keeping the puck pout of the net for the most part has been due to the phenomenal goaltending of junior netminder Ellie Brigham. The junior has played all 14 of the Rockets games this season and has been a rock between the pipes.

“She has been incredible and brings a great attitude to the ice,” Mason said. “She rarely gets down on herself and has helped us greatly with her play in the net.”

With the Rockets holding onto an undefeated season with a handful of games remaining on their regular schedule the coach knew the girls were going to have a decent season but never thought that they’d be this successful.

“Having gone on the Final 8 last year I knew that we had a good team, but at this point I think that we are playing above our expectations,” Mason said. “I am hoping that we can continue winning, but I really don’t care if we go undefeated. I want the girls to be able to go through the ups and downs of  season so that they are ready for when the tournament begins.”

Mason noted that while the team has not had the downs of a loss thus far this season, the team has seen its share of ups and downs during games. In getting to this point of the season, she is happy that all the girls have been able to contribute to the team’s success in one way or another.

Senior captains Maia Tatum and Leah Medeiros have led the way for the Rockets. Tatum brings her expertise to the back line with her defensive play. She is a great defensive zone player that covers the front of the net and battles hard in the corners. Medeiros on the other hand plays the opposite end of the ice as one of the team’s centers. She has used her skill to win the majority of her one-on-one battles, and she too fights hard on the ice, setting good examples for her teammates. Both individuals are great leaders on the ice as well as off of it.

Offensively Auburn has been led by junior Camy Connor, her younger sister Lauryn Connor and Giana Samalis. While the coach did name this trio of scorers she noted that it is definitely hard to signal out one specific individual who has carried this team .

“This is a team effort,” she said. “And they work extremely well together as a whole.”

If the Rockets can continue to play at the pace they have put forth over the first three-quarters of the season they should once again find themselves venturing into the Division2 State Tournament  and hopefully further than they did last winter. And who knows maybe a State Championship like the Coach would like to add to the team’s resume.