Millbrook 2 -- Winchendon 2 (OT)

Millbrook and Winchendon skated to a thrilling 2-2 overtime tie in which each team had great chances to win, and each team's defense rose to the challenge of preventing the winner time and again.  The Mustangs got off to a very good start, letting the visitors know that for all their speed, the hosts were going to battle hard to keep up.  Shots were in Millbrook's favor for the first period, but there were no goals.  In the second, Winchendon picked it up a notch and controlled play throughout, sandwiching two goals by Victoria Virtue around a nifty Meg Ahern counter on a beautiful feed form Olivia Farrell on a two-on-one break.  Louise Steele-Norton almost tied it on a shot that rung off the post-and-crossbar joint, but 2-2 would have flattered Millbrook at that point.  The third period was strangley flat for the first half, but then the home crowd began to lift its team, and Farrell tied the game with five minutes remaining after a dominating forecheck with her linemates, assists going to Ahern and Allanah Roopchand.  Goalie Melissa Rome was rock-solid in the nets, while Celeste Robert made her own share of big saves at the other end.  Emma Hart and Britt Dell took turns terrorizing their opponents with their fast skating all afternoon, Kelly Fallon backchecked like a banshee, and while either team could have scored in overtime, both will take some measure of satisfaction out of this feisty, hard-played contest.