Ashley Castriotta

Class: Freshman

Age: 14

High School: Framingham High

Sport: Ice hockey

Position: Goalie

Year first started competing: Framingham town teams, while still in middle school.

Career highlight: First varsity goaltending opportunity.

Favorite athlete: “My Dad. He played goalie in high school. And my goalie coaches, Jerry Diana and Doug Mickaels.”

It was the final game of the regular season and Framingham was losing to Walpole. Ashley Castriotta was arrayed in her goal tending regalia and occupying her accustomed spot on the Flyers’ bench. Hockey is a waiting game for freshmen goaltenders when there is a senior goalie guarding your team’s net.

Midway through the second period the call came when Framingham’s starting goalie was injured. Castriotta finished the game and held Walpole scoreless the rest of the way.

“As a freshman goalie, Ashley was in a tough spot as the back up to a senior goalie,” said Framingham coach John Gallagher. “This year, all of our games were real competitive with only a goal differential. As a result, she received almost no playing time during the regular season. But throughout the year she continuously worked hard, prepared and improved. When the starting goalie went down, she was ready.”

Castriotta was in goal when Framingham met Watertown-Melrose in the first game of the state tournament last week and made 24 saves in a 1-0 loss.

“Despite the tough loss in the tournament game, Ashley's play was exceptional,” said Gallagher. “It certainly was a positive note that the team can take into the off-season.”

Castriotta was drawn to hockey partly because her father played the game and partly because she finds enjoyment being in the rink.

“I like the sport in general,” she said. “It’s fun to step on the ice and play.”

But why goalie and not another position? “I like goalie better than forward. I think it helps that I’m a catcher in softball.”

Even though Framingham is done for the year, Castriotta is still playing hockey. She is goalie for an elite team out of Dedham and is looking forward to a state tournament game, with that team.

She still has three years to play for Framingham and then? “I want to play after high school,” said Castriotta. “And I’d like to coach hockey, someday.”