Martha’s Vineyard girls score late to tie Quincy/North Quincy

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Emily Cimeno breaks out across center ice, with teammates Aubrey Ashmun (center) and Sydney Minnehan in tow, late in the third period of Saturday's 3-3 tie with Quincy/North Quincy at the M.V. Arena. — Photo by Ralph Stewart

Aubrey Ashmun proved the old hockey axiom that good things can happen when you just put the puck on net.

With 1:23 remaining in regulation play and the Vineyarders trailing Quincy/North Quincy, 3-2, Saturday afternoon at the M.V. Arena, the Vineyard sophomore forward simply sent the puck into the goalmouth. Teammate Kassidy Bettencourt was camped in front of QNQ goaltender Erin McGinnis, who could not see the puck slide slowly into the back of the net for the tying score.

Bettencourt and Emily Cimeno picked up assists on the play that secured a valuable Southeast Mass. Girls Hockey League point and saved the hosts from a crushing loss on home ice.

The 3-3 tie left the Vineyarders with a 6-4-2 record and a 4-3-2 mark in the SEMGHL. The Vineyard girls need six points from their remaining eight games to secure a second successive trip to the MIAA state tournament.

Saturday’s draw aside, coach John Fiorito was less than enthused with what he saw as a subpar effort in a game that the Vineyarders expected to win. M.V. won the first meeting between the teams, 3-0, on January 2 at the Quincy Youth Arena.

“We just need to play with a little more intensity and a little more urgency,” the coach said. “We have hit a little wall and hopefully we can get through that wall. Otherwise it’s going to be a long last eight games.”

Kassidy Bettencourt put the hosts in front at 4:19 of the first period, assisted by Belle Dinning, but QNQ struck for two goals in 53 seconds to take a 2-1 lead to the first intermission.

Emily Hammett tied the game, 2-2, at 2:22 of the third period by converting a slick centering pass by Sydney Davies. Belle Dinning got the secondary assist. QNQ regained the lead with 5:20 left on the clock following a goalmouth scramble.

The girls are back on the M.V. Arena ice Wednesday at 2:45 for a league game against Bourne/Mashpee/Wareham (BMW) and again Saturday, February 2, at 1 pm against Hanover.