You know what I’ve been thinking? Injury and all, Alyssa Norden of the St. Mary’s girls hockey team saved the day.

The Spartans captured the Division 1 state championship, 5-4, against Notre Dame (Hingham) this past Sunday at TD Garden. But, they faced a few obstacles.

First, the Spartans trailed 3-1 in the second period. Secondly, one of their top players, Norden, went down with an injury. 

“I need to play,” Norden said. “I told the trainer, ‘I’m fine.’”

Spoiler alert: she wasn’t sitting this one out.

Norden returned and scored two pivotal goals. The first cut Notre Dame’s lead to 3-2; the second eliminated the opposition in the third overtime – fellow freshman Bella Freitas tapped her the puck along the back post, and Norden took care of the rest. 

Teammate hugs poured in for the hero

“It’s a good feeling,” Norden said. “I was just so happy to see our team win at TD Garden.”

Not to get too far ahead of myself, but something tells me I’ll be writing about the now-freshman in a year’s time, too.

Alyssa, good week.