Sam Taber’s hat trick powers Austin Prep girls’ hockey past Westwood

After scoring two goals against third-ranked St. Mary’s on Saturday, Austin Prep eighth-grader Sam Taber turned in another veteran performance on Monday night.

Taber netted a hat trick to lift the top-ranked Austin Prep girls’ hockey team to a 7-0 victory over No. 4 Westwood at the Canton IceHouse.

“All my teammates just encourage me to do better and better,” said Taber. “I knew I could beat the defense with my speed if I tried, and I did.”

Austin Prep (9-0) started off slow, losing 10 of 12 faceoffs in the opening period and struggling to maintain possession. Ten minutes into the frame, Taber took advantage of a blocked shot and grabbed the loose puck and streaked in from center ice undefended for the first goal.

Two minutes later, the Cougars doubled the lead on an odd-player rush, with Elise Lyons tucking home the rebound.

“As we go on, we’re working on more attention to detail,” said Austin Prep coach Stephanie Wood. “I thought a couple of our goals were getting up on pucks and blocking shots.”

Westwood (8-1-2) hung in for much of the first two periods as senior Caroline McDonough made several heroic saves to keep the Wolverines close.

But the Cougars kept coming, pouring on 30 shots for the game. Taber added her second goal on another breakaway and a third late in regulation from a difficult angle.

Senior Ella Saracco and freshman Aylah Cioffi each added a goal and an assist.

“We’re spending more time with our work down low with our forwards generating offense,” said Wood. “We’re not just going to walk in and score, we have to find ways to score with continuous movement down low and working to create opportunities.”

The Wolverines also lost senior captain Kat Keith to injury late in the second period as she suffered an ankle sprain during a net-front scramble.

Boys’ hockey

Bishop Feehan 7, Sacred Heart 0 — Freshman Ryan D’Amato picked up his first varsity win as the Shamrocks (4-4-1) dominated.

Foxborough 5, Norton 2 — Freshman Jack Watts netted a pair for the Warriors (6-3-1). Boys’ basketball

Bishop Connolly 68, Diman 61 — Junior John Rego scored 26 points as Cougars (7-1) came back from a 10-point deficit in the fourth quarter.

Brockton 104, New Mission 102 — Junior Sunny Okunola had 21 points in a double-overtime win for the Boxers (8-2).

Attleboro 60, Foxborough 32 — Big games from juniors Lorenzo Wilson (15 points) and Qualeem Charles (15 points, 9 rebounds) helped lead the Rocketeers (8-2) to a Hockomock League victory over the Warriors (4-5).

Cardinal Spellman 63, Coyle & Cassidy 57 — Craig Faria’s 31 points lifted the Cardinals (3-8) to a nonleague win.

Saugus 66, Matignon 47 — Junior Christian Correia scored 26 points to help the Sachems (1-8) pick up their first win of the season.

South Shore Voc-Tech 60, Avon 52 — Senior Kyle Shiner had 15 points, 7 assists, and 7 rebounds for the Vikings (6-5).

Girls’ basketball

Andover 68, Everett 29 — Senior captain Gia Bramanti nailed a trio of 3-pointers and scored 19 points and senior Taylor Landry added 17 points as the Warriors (9-2) rolled.

Bristol Aggie 32, Diman 27 — Tiffany Cabral scored 22 of the Chieftains’ 32 points as they improved to 3-6.

Foxborough 64, Attleboro 36 — Sophomore Katelyn Mollica dropped 19 points and junior Abby Hassman scored 13 points and recorded 10 rebounds as Warriors (9-0) rolled.

Lynn Classical 48, Medford 33 — Junior Jean Gupton-Morrison led all scorers with 15 points in a Rams victory.

North Quincy 57, West Roxbury 19 — Senior captain Mary Kate McAleavey posted 17 points and 8 rebounds in the victory.

St. Mary’s 55, Austin Prep 46 — Five players combined for 52 points for the Spartans (9-2).

Girls’ indoor track

Middleborough 54.5, Carver 45.5 — Senior Abbie Wager won the mile and 2-mile for the Sachems (6-1), breaking the school record in the 2-mile by three seconds.