After a state championship loss to Shrewsbury last season, St. Mary’s girls hockey team is back in Boston for a chance to redeem itself. The No. 2 Spartans face off against No. 1 Notre Dame (Hingham), a team they’re quite familiar with. 

“They’re a great team. They’re one of the most balanced teams out there. They have tremendous defensemen, their goalie is solid, and they have very good forwards,” said St. Mary’s coach Frank Pagliuca. “It’s a tall task at hand. They run three lines [and] five to six defenders. They’re probably one of the deepest teams in the state regarding how deep they can go to their bench. They’re relentless and they pressure the puck really well. They force mistakes. That’s the one thing that has impressed me. They have hit their stride.”

As if Sunday’s matchup needed more of a theatrical feel, it’s the third time the programs will see each other this winter.

“We played in December (2-0 St. Mary’s) and then our second-to-last game,” Pagliuca said. “We lost, 2-1, in overtime at the Hingham Showcase. Both goaltenders have been strong in both games. There haven’t been many scoring opportunities. It’s been one of those games where you have to capitalize, because they’re talented enough to capitalize on an opportunity.” 

When asked how the team’s morale has been after clinching its title spot, Pagliuca said the girls have been excited. 

“It seems like a long time since the Final 4… We’ll practice today (Friday) and on Saturday, but we just tried to keep it as normal as possible,” he said. “We have a lot of work to do to get ready for the game.” 

Pagliuca – who began coaching the Spartans in 2005 – is more than pleased with his team’s mindset through tournament victories against Weymouth, Boston Latin, Shrewsbury, and Archbishop Williams.

“It’s been a great run by our team. Three of the four games we played were tied in the third period,” he said. “We found ways to take advantage of opportunities when they presented themselves. We try to keep it simple and keep our attitude positive. We just want to play together and make the right decisions when we’re on the ice.” 

As for St. Mary’s secret, look no further than its motto all season: keep playing.

“Whether we’re up three goals or down two, we can’t get too high if we score and we can’t get too low if they score – we just have to keep playing,” Pagliuca said. “The girls have been really good at not getting caught up in the emotions of the game. They focus on the simple concept of playing, and what we’re doing. We want them to keep their composure during these games and we’ve done a great job controlling our emotions. The consistency of that has helped us over the last few games.”

The Spartans’ defense has been one of their strengths, allowing just 1.25 goals per game in the tournament. 

“I think defense goes beyond the defensemen. Our forwards have done a great job recovering, making sure we’re getting the puck out in the D-zone and helping us get the puck out to transition into offense,” Pagliuca said.

Better yet, the defense is doing this without captain Kasey Litwin, who broke her fibula on Senior Night.

“She was a big loss because she was one of our better players this season,” Pagliuca said. “I think other people have taken on additional responsibilities. Whether it was Regan Sullivan, who is one of our captains. Vanessa Hall has played a ton for us and is a great player. Abby Malcuit and Camdyn Driscoll both took on additional responsibilities. Those four have done a great job in the tournament and have been gaining confidence. They have blossomed into a strong defensive core.” 

Not only does St. Mary’s come with Alyssa Norden and Catholic Central League Most Valuable Player Bella Freitas (44 goals), but Pagliuca has loved what he’s seen up and down the roster.

“All three lines have done a great job in the D-zone and not just playing to score, but doing a great job of limiting other teams’ chances,” he said. “From backchecking, chipping pucks out, to picking up open players, it’s the stuff that doesn’t necessarily show up on the statsheet and is underappreciated.” 

With the big game approaching, it’s the week leading up to it that makes the veteran coach smile.

“The weather is getting warmer and there are only four teams in the state that are still practicing,” Pagliuca said. “Playing in The Garden is such a lifetime experience. It’s something you’ll remember 30-40 years down the line – that you got the chance to skate at the Boston Garden. For our girls to experience that means the world to me and our coaching staff.” 

St. Mary’s looks to bring it all back to Lynn this Sunday with puck-drop set for 9 a.m. across the spoked-B.