By HockomockSports.com Staff

Franklin junior Brigid Earley has been selected as the HockomockSports.com Player of the Week, presented by Morse Insurance, for June 27 through July 5. Earley is the 29th and final player chosen as Player of the Week for the 2020-21 school year and ninth in the spring season.

Earley came through with some of her biggest moments of the season last week, helping the Panthers see off Chelmsford to reach their first state title game and then nearly coming back to beat perennial power Westwood in the final. Earley, who had not played goalie for Franklin before this season (she played attack as a freshman on JV), allowed less than five goals per game this spring.

“This is her first year playing goalie and look where she brought us,” said Franklin head coach Kristin Igoe Guarino after the state final. “She’s incredible and she made some huge saves on some Div. I shooters and kept us in the game. I’m really proud of her. She learned quick and she led us to the state finals.”

In the state semifinal against Chelmsford, Earley made four saves, including a point-blank stop early in the second quarter the prevented the Lions from tying the game. Franklin proceeded to go on a 5-1 run to take control. Earley saved the best for last, coming up with her most impressive performance of the season on the biggest stage.

She made 10 saves in the game against Westwood, consistently making big stops at big moments to keep the Panthers within touching distance of the nine-time champs. Earley was called into action a lot in the opening half, as the Wolverines ramped up the pressure, but she made saves with her stick, her legs, and her mask to keep Westwood out. She came up with a big stop that kept momentum for the Panthers in the third and then somehow got enough of a shot to send it off the post, which started a break that got Franklin back within one. With the game tied in the fourth, she came up with three big stops from close range that kept the Panthers even going into the closing seconds.

The Player of the Week, presented by Morse Insurance, is selected by the HockomockSports.com staff. Nominations can be submitted throughout the week up until Saturday night at midnight. There may be a poll posted on every Sunday with the nominations. The results of the poll influence the selection but do not strictly dictate the decision.