New Haven Register (New Haven, CT)
GIRLS ICE HOCKEY HIGHLIGHTS
TOP PERFORMERS
Shannon Aube, Northwest Catholic / Mercy: The junior scored four goals in a 5-2 victory over the Suffield co-op on Wednesday. She also had two goals in a 5-1 win over the Wilton co-op on Saturday, and a goal and an assist in a key CCC win over the East Catholic co-op on Monday.
Bella Bonfiglio and Kailyn Reynolds, Avon / Southington co-op: The two Nighthawks each had two goals and one assist in a 7-6 win over previously-unbeaten Darien on Saturday. Emily Moskal also had three points on a goal and two assists.
Piper Chaisson, New Canaan: The freshman scored both of New Canaan’s goals in a 2-1 victory over the Southington/Avon co-op last Wednesday. She also scored in a 3-0 shutout of Guilford on Friday. The line of Chaisson, Maddie Tully, and Serena O’Connor had six goals and nine assists in the Rams’ last three games.
Thora Clark, Simsbury: The senior forward scored the game-winning goal with 3:30 remaining in the Trojans’ 2-1 victory over the Stamford/Westhill/Staples co-op on Saturday at Terry Conners Rink. Clark leads 10-7-1 Simsbury with 20 goals this winter.
Kadence Epke, Guilford: The freshman goalie racked up 59 saves against 62 shots in a 3-0 loss to defending state champion New Canaan on Friday. It’s the second time this season Epke has made 59 saves in a game.
Lili Ficaro, East Catholic/Glastonbury co-op: The sophomore netted the game-winning goal in overtime as the Storm won 1-0 over Avon/Southington, which is in second place in the state standings. Ficaro now has 14 goals this season.
Nina Holm, Southington / Avon: Holm scored the game-winning goal in the third period in the Nighthawks’ 7-6 win over Darien on Saturday at the Darien Ice House.
Kelsey Kowal, East Catholic/Glastonbury co-op: The senior goalie stopped all 31 shots she faced in the Storm’s 1-0 overtime win against the Southington/Avon co-op on Friday. It was Kowal’s fourth shutout of the season.
Kellie Matteo, Simsbury: Matteo, a senior goalie, collected 34 saves to help Simsbury defeat Stamford/Westhill/Staples 2-1 on Saturday.
Nicole Partridge, Southington / Avon: The senior forward collected four points with a goal and three assists when the Nighthawks won 7-6 over previously-unbeaten Darien on Saturday.
Julianna Picard, West Haven / SHA: The sophomore had a hand in all six of the Westie Sharks’ goals during a 6-4 victory over the Masuk co-op on Wednesday. Picard scored four goals and dished out two assists for six points.
Ashton Pinkernell, New Canaan: The freshman goalie had two shutouts and allowed just one goal in three straight victories. That included 15 saves in a 2-1 win over the Southington/Avon co-op on Wednesday.
Anne Plunkett, West Haven / SHA: The senior collected four assists in West Haven/SHA’s 6-4 victory over the Masuk co-op. Junior Geena Montano scored twice and had one assist. The line of Montano, Plunkett and PIcard had 13 of the team’s 16 points in the game.
GAMES TO WATCH
Stamford / Westhill / Staples at East Catholic co-op (Newington Ice Arena), Friday, 8:30: The SWS co-op and East Catholic both close out the regular season with two tough games in two days.
Wilton / Norwalk / McMahon at Daniel Hand co-op (Northford Ice Pavilion), Saturday, 2:30: Both co-ops are inside the 12-team playoff bubble, but Wilton, which is 12th, could use a boost.Wilton won an earlier clash with Hand 6-0.
Mercy / Northwest Catholic co-op at Stamford / Westhill / Staples (Terry Conners Rink), Saturday, 8:
The two playoff-bound teams met in the season’s first week, with Mercy taking a 3-0 decision. That was a long time ago and both teams are playing well with the playoffs on tap.
CONFERENCE TOURNAMENTS FCIAC Wednesday, Feb. 22
Semifinals at Darien Ice House
No. 4 Greenwich vs. No. 1 Darien, 6
No. 3 Stamford/Westhill/Staples vs. No. 2 New Canaan, 7:45 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 25
Final at Darien Ice House, 4:30
SCC Monday, Feb. 20 First round
No. 6 Amity/Cheshire/North Haven co-op at No. 3 Hamden co-op (Astorino Rink), 5
No. 5 Masuk co-op at No. 4 Guilford (East Haven Rink), 8
Wednesday, Feb. 22 Semifinals
Masuk/Guilford winner at No. 1 West Haven/SHA (Bennett Rink), 4
Amity/Hamden winner at No. 2 Daniel Hand co-op (Northford Ice Pavilion), 3:30
Saturday, Feb. 25
Final at Bennett Rink 7:15
CCC Monday, Feb. 20 Semifinals
No. 4 Mercy/Northwest Catholic/East Hampton at No. 1 Southington/Avon (Newington Ice Arena), 11:50 a.m.
Simsbury vs. East Catholic co-op, seeds, site and time TBD
Friday, Feb. 24
Final at Trinity College, 8:30