Massachusetts's top-rated public school team, Newton North, fell behind early
to powerhouse Catholic Memorial in their Super Eight tourney game at Boston
Garden Tuesday night, and so the coach decided to change goalies.  No big
deal, right?  Well, the goalie he brought in was Denese (Kerrissey?) - a
girl.  In 54 years since the old building had been built, this was the very
first time a girl had ever tended goal for her team in the Garden.  (Kelly
Dyer backed up Tom Barrasso for state tourney finalist Acton-Boxboro in the
early 80s, but she never played in the Garden.)
 
And this was no move intended to shake up the team, either.  She made 23
saves over the final two periods as her team bounced back before losing, 8-5.
A few days earlier in the same tourney (double elimination, two brackets), she
got the call against Reading, annually one of the state's best teams (alma
mater of UNH forward Kevin Thomson, among others), and posted a 4-1 win to
keep Newton North in the winner's bracket.
 
I think Denese is just a sophomore and has a couple more years at Newton
North.  After that she plans to play in college somewhere - maybe for a men's
team.  But she wants to lead Newton North to a state title first.  Their
hopes are still alive this year but CM looks tough.
 
Oh yes - her brother plays for Newton North, too - another first (brother
and sister on the same team in the Garden).  He tallied a big goal during
their team's comeback.  I believe the loss to CM was NN's first loss this
season.
 
 
- mike
 
PS have to include this - my alma mater, Central Catholic, upset top seed
   Norwood in the Div 1 tourney (one step below Super Eight) last night and
   will play in the semifinals at the Garden Sunday night - their first-ever
   Garden appearance! Here's to two upsets Sunday - Central and Merrimack. :-)