Backed by Morgan Murphy (30 saves), Marshfield blanks Burlington

WATERTOWN — At one point this season, Marshfield was sitting at 4-7 and just hoping it could earn a spot in the Division 2 girls hockey tournament.

On Thursday at Ryan Arena, the Rams continued their stunning run through the tournament. Morgan Murphy was simply amazing, stopping all 30 Burlington shots she faced as the Rams made a pair of second-period goals stand up in a 2-0 win over the third-seeded Red Devils.

“This is the best feeling in the world,” Murphy said. “It’s great to see this program come so far this year.”

It looked like it was going to be a long night for Marshfield right from the warmups as second leading scorer Kayla Leonard had a skate blade snap when she stepped on the ice.

After an emergency change, she came back on the ice as warmups ended and then proved to be a thorn in Burlington’s side.

The Red Devils (19-2-2) dominated almost the entire first period but couldn’t get anything past Murphy.

Early in the second, the Rams earned a 32-second two man advantage and were able to take advantage. Just after the first penalty ended, Leonard got the puck in the slot. Her shot was thwarted but Julia LeMire scooped loose puck and snapped one past Isa Fischer for a 1-0 lead.

Late in the period, Burlington got a power play but it was the Rams who increased their lead when Leonard picked off a clearing pass at the Burlington line and beat Fischer with a backhander at 13:05.

“That was an amazing finish there by Kayla,” Marshfield coach Tom Greland said.

Chasing two goals, Burlington threw everything it could muster at Murphy in the third period, outshooting the Rams 14-0 but Murphy was there at every turn.

Marshfield’s Kayla Leonard, left, and Burlington’s Ann Viglione chase the puck during an MIAA Div. 2 girls hockey game in Watertown. Marshfield earned a tough 2-0 win. (Photo by Mark Stockwell/Boston Herald)

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