New Haven Register (New Haven, CT)
West Haven/SHA advances to face Hamden in SCC final
WEST HAVEN – Since 2016, either the Guilford co-op or West Haven/Sacred Heart Academy hockey teams have been a representative in the Southern Connecticut Conference finals. They have even met along the way, including last year’s title game won by Guilford in overtime.
It comes as no surprise the two would meet again this year after splitting a pair of one-goal games, with both teams winning on the road.
In a much-anticipated battle, it was the top-seeded Westie Sharks who came out on top. Behind a balanced scoring attack and the goaltending of Isabelle Desrosiers, West Haven/Sacred Heart Academy topped fourth-seeded Guilford co-op 5-1 in the SCC semifinals at the Edward L. Bennett Rink in West Haven on Wednesday.
With the victory, the Westie Sharks advance to Saturday evening’s SCC final against third-seeded Hamden co-op, a 4-2 winner over second-seeded Hand, at 7:30 p.m. in West Haven.
West Haven/Sacred Heart Academy had seven different players in the scoring column, with Juliana Gonzalez, Ashley Welch and Taylor Alfano each recording a goal and an assist. Desrosiers made 20 saves in the win.
“That’s exactly what we have been saying,” West Haven/Sacred Heart Academy head coach Erin Blake said of the balanced attack. “We have been working on following shots, getting rebounds, and having that grit. From the beginning of the season, we have showed that and that’s why they are where they are. It was a full team effort.”
Desrosiers was the key early as she turned aside seven Guilford shots in the opening period, including a stop of Emma Clifford with 8:17 remaining in the opening period.
After early pressure, the Westie Sharks took a 1-0 lead with 6:05 remaining in the middle period when Gonzalez put in a rebound of a Welch shot past Guilford goalie Kadence Epke.
“It is always a tough game with Guilford,” Blake said. “Last year, losing to them in the SCC finals, was tough. It is always back and forth, so it is anybody’s game. Both teams showed up, but we got ahead on them. (Kadence) Epke is strong in net. She is following in Maddie’s (Epke) footsteps. She is an amazing goalie. We knew she was going to be difficult to get by.”
Guilford wasted no time coming back, needing just 27 seconds to respond when Jordan King scored off an assist from Julia Crisci.
With the action going back and forth, West Haven/Sacred Heart Academy took the lead for good when Alfano took a pass from Heather Fonda and ripped a shot to the top corner past Epke with 2:24 left in the second for a 2-1 lead.
“It was definitely a big team effort,” Alfano said. “The pass from Heather Fonda definitely was a key play and the screen in front played a huge role in that.”
West Haven/Sacred Heart Academy controlled the play in the third period, holding a 15-6 shot advantage and scoring the only three goals.
Julianna Montano and Anne Plunkett were denied early, but Welch found the back of the net off assists from Gonzalez and Alfano with 6:11 remaining.
“The scoreboard doesn’t show how good of a game it was,” Guilford coach Rick Binkowski said after his team finished the season 10-11. “They had a couple of bounces go their way and we had some minor mistakes which hurt us. These girls fought really hard. It is always a tough game when we come down here to West Haven. They are a strong team. They always are. Congratulations to them for sure, but our girls have been through a lot of adversity this year and they have fought through it. I am very proud of them.”
When Geena Montano scored off an assist from Julianna Picard 1:19 later, West Haven/Sacred Heart Academy was getting ready to punch its ticket to its third straight SCC finals.
“Tonight, we knew it was do or die with the SCC’s,” Blake said. “We had something to prove, especially after last year. We wanted to make it to Saturday and all we had to do was win and that’s what we did.”
Julianna Montano capped the scoring with an empty net goal with 16 seconds remaining.
Epke finished the game with 27 saves in the loss.
Player of the Game
Taylor Alfano – West Haven junior scored the eventual game-winning goal with 2:24 left in the second period. Alfano finished with a goal and an assist, and was solid defensively for the Westies.
Quotable
“It is a huge honor and definitely very rewarding. We all worked hard as a team, and it definitely paid off.”
West Haven’s Taylor Alfano on advancing to the SCC championship game.