The West Haven boys’ hockey team improved to 10-6 with two, big wins last week. The Westies defeated the North Haven Indians, 7-2, on Wednesday evening at the Bennett Rink. Richie Greene picked up his first of two goals on the night just 1:42 into the game assisted by Robbie Forleo and Kaden Morgillo. After the Indians tied the game, the Blue Devils responded with two, quick goals before the end of the first period. Morgillo made it 2-1, assisted by Ryan Smith with 1:56 left and then Niko Kyle increased the lead to 3-1, assisted by Kevin Moriarty and DJ Carfora with 28 seconds left.
Richie Greene got his second of the game when he was set up by Forleo 1:51 into the second period and after North Haven cut the lead to 4-2, Moriarty made it 5-2 with an assist going to Carfora. The Westies extended their lead when Kyle netted his second goal of the game late in the second and the Mikey Alfano scored at 3:29 of the third period for the 7-2 final. Jared Pliszka made 16 saves and Dan Kelly came in during the third period to stop 6 shots between the pipes for West Haven.
On Saturday afternoon, the Blue Devils hosted the New Fairfield/Immaculate co-op team. The Westies spotted the Mustangs a 2-0 lead in the first period before Kaden Morgillo’s point shot on the power play found the back of the net with 1:31 left in the first period to cut the lead to 2-1. Richie Greene and D.J. Carfora picked up assists on the goal. Just 2:49 into the second period, NFI reestablished a two-goal lead. Morgillo scored his second goal of the game, assisted by Greene with 11:42 left in the period to cut the lead to 3-2. In the third period with the Blue Devils on a power play, Kevin Moriarty tipped a Robbie Forleo shot to tie the game at 3-3 just 24 seconds in. NFI took the lead again with 12:51 left in the contest. It was then time for Niko Kyle to shine. Kyle scored with 6:18 left to knot the game and send the game to overtime and then after NFI took a penalty, Kyle gathered the puck behind the net, circled out front and sniped the game-winning goal over the NFI goaltender’s shoulder and under the crossbar for the 5-4 victory 1:32 into the extra session. Jared Pliszka made 21 saves in goal for West Haven.
This week, the Blue Devils hosted cross-town rival Notre Dame on Wednesday and will celebrate Niko Kyle and Noah Iversen’s last regular season home game on Senior Day against Glastonbury at 1.
The West Haven/Sacred Heart girls’ hockey team continued to impress, running its record on the season to 16-2. On Tuesday evening, the Westie Sharks faced rival Hamden at the Bennett Rink. The Green Dragons caught the girls napping when off the opening faceoff, the Dragons split the defense and scored just 16 seconds into the game to take a 1-0 lead. Meghan Dupre’s point shot evened the game at 1-1 at 4:28. After Hamden took a 2-1 lead 1:30 later, it was all Westie Sharks. The girls scored five, unanswered goals started with a goal by Jianna Cohrs, assisted by Megan Froehlich with 1:36 left in the first period. Cohrs netted her second goal of the game, assisted by Dupre at 9:07 to give the girls their first lead. Forty-nine seconds later, Taylor Nowak made history when she scored to become the first member of the 100-point club in school history for the girls’ team. CC Condon scored to increase the lead to 5-2, assisted by Jenna Hunt at 5:54 of the third period and then again 25 seconds later assisted by Hunt and Francesca Criscuolo for the 6-2 final. Kyleen Crowe made 35 saves between the pipes.
On Saturday night, the Westie Sharks traveled to The Rinks at Shelton to take on Notre Dame of Fairfield/Law/Foran/Weston/Pomperaug Lancers. Jianna Cohrs provide the offense and Kyleen Crowe posted a shutout in a 2-0 victory. Cohrs scored her first goal just 3:31 into the game assisted by Veronica Lynn and then again with 41 seconds left in the first period, assisted by CC Condon and Megan Froehlich. Crowe did her part by shutting down the Lancers, making 31 saves to preserve the victory.
This week, the Westie Sharks wrap up their regular season. The girls hosted Branford/North Branford/Sheehan/Lyman Hall on Tuesday and then the Westie Sharks host the top ranked SCC North, Hall/Conard co-op team on Friday at 6:30.
The boys’ basketball team hosted the Jonathan Law Eagles on Friday evening at the WHHS Gym. After handing the Lawmen their first loss of the season two weeks ago, Jonathan Law was seeking revenge. The Blue Devils made sure that would not be the case jumping out to a 15-2 first quarter lead and took a 30-11 lead into halftime, cruising to a 72-49 win. Quannel Straughter led West Haven with 24 points, Mufee Cooper had 16 points and Tyrese Hargrove added 13 points in the victory.
This week, the boys wrapped up their home schedule when they hosted Guilford on Tuesday and will play two, final regular season games on the road at Weaver on Saturday at 3:30 and at Cheshire on Monday at 7.
The girls’ basketball team dropped a 60-40 decision at home against Lyman Hall on Tuesday evening. Ny’Aire Serrano had 11 points to lead the Blue Devils while Keegan Riccio had eight points and Natalia Frazer contributed with seven points in the loss.
On Thursday evening, the Westies defeated the Sacred Heart Academy Sharks 48-47. The girls led 26-16 at halftime and hung on for the victory. Natalia Frazer led the girls with 18 points while Brianna Sebastian, Sarah Evangelista and Diamond Dixon all had eight points each.
The Westies postseason hopes came to an end with a 62-52 loss at Plainville on Saturday. The Blue Devils concluded their season with road games at Jonathan Law on Monday and at Harding on Tuesday evening.