The West Haven boys hockey team won its second consecutive contest with a 6-4 victory over Notre Dame-Fairfield in Shelton Monday afternoon.
A week after getting thumped by the Lancers, the Westies received a goal and two assists from Ben Carfora, a goal and an assist from Anthony Peschell, two assists each from Nico Bruneau and Nick Boanno, and 25 saves from Charlie Miller to improve to 4-3 on the year.
With Notre Dame-West Haven next on the schedule for the Westies, they will have four days to get ready for the high-powered Green Knights.
West Haven had eight players in the scoring column and needed just 25 seconds into the game to get on the scoreboard when Peschell took a feed from Bruneau and scored from the point.
Brian Essing evened the game for the Lancers with a short-handed tally with 3:25 left in the opening period to wipe away a solid first period by the Westies.
The Lancers took a 2-1 into the second but that was the last lead for Notre Dame as West Haven scored the next three goals for a 4-2 advantage.
Carfora tied it, and Michael Kelly gave West Haven the lead for good. Mike Alfano poked in a loose puck in front with 28.1 seconds left for a 4-2 lead.
Miller then came up big in the third period. The senior goaltender denied Tim Finkenzeller on a breakaway with 2:30 gone and turned aside a shot by Matt Newton 20 seconds later.
The Westies gave Miller some cushion, scoring their second power play goal of the game with 9:38 remaining. Off assists from Boanno and Peschell, Ryan Bernardi fired a shot to the top corner for a 5-3 lead.
Miller stood on his head the rest of the way but the Lancers made it a 5-4 contest with 2:18 to go. Ryan Smith scored his first career goal into an empty net off an assist from Carfora with 54.2 seconds remaining to seal the win.
West Haven returned from quarantine Sunday afternoon in Cromwell against Xavier-Middletown. After a strong start, the Westies could not maintain the energy and fell 5-3 to the Falcons on Senior Day for the Falcons.
Boanno had a goal and an assist, Ben Carfora and Bruneau scored, and Miller had 30 saves in West Haven’s first game in two weeks.
WHGH
The West Haven / Sacred Heart Academy girls hockey team improved to 6-0 with a dominant 5-0 victory over Hand-Madison Thursday afternoon in Northford. The Westie Sharks held a 61-4 shot advantage in the contest, with Grace Nowak making four saves in the shutout.
Geena Montano led the way with two goals as the Westie Sharks scored three times in the opening period and never looked back.
In one of the most exciting contests of the season, the team remained undefeated on the season. Scoring the tying goal with 45 seconds left in regulation, the Westie Sharks did one better by using Emilee DeGrand’s second goal of the game with three seconds left in regulation to defeat Amity, 3-2, Saturday evening in Hamden.
Playing without Mia Celentano, Jianna Cohrs and Jenna Hunt, the Westie Sharks turned to others to pull out the victory.
Down 2-0, the Westie Sharks started their comeback 4:01 into the third when Chase Ireland scored off an assist from Melissa Tsakonas. Despite the pressure, WH/SHA could not get the equalizer until 45 seconds remained in the third when DeGrand tied the contest off assists from Juliana Montano and Mackenzie Gardner.
With all the drama in the final seconds, West Haven came through again as DeGrand scored in the final seconds of overtime to help the Westie Sharks post the win.
Grace Nowak made 23 saves in the win as the Westie Sharks held a 42-25 shot advantage in the contest.
The West Haven boys basketball team has come back from quarantine looking as if it has not missed a beat. After returning with a win over Amity, the Westies picked up their second straight victory with a 54-32 decision over Jonathan Law..
Eli Blackwell and Malcolm Duncanson led the way with 19 and 10 points, respectively, as Blackwell drained four 3-pointers. Manny Belcher and Kairon Hooks each scored eight in the win.
West Haven improved to 4-0, including 3-0 since returning from quarantine, with a dominant 58-34 victory over Shelton in Shelton Tuesday evening.
Belcher, Duncanson, and Hooks each finished with 10 points in the win.
With a pair of losses entering its rivalry game against West Haven, the Notre Dame-West Haven boys basketball team could have gone one of two ways. For coach Jason Shea, he got to see what his team was made of.
Trailing by five late in the third quarter, the Green Knights turned up their defense and closed the game on a 26-5 run to defeat previously undefeated West Haven 63-47 at Neil Cavallaro Court at West Haven High Monday evening.
Carroll finished with a game-high 23 points, including 10 in the second half. Conner had 16 points, 10 coming in the first half, and James Rawlins finished with nine points as Notre Dame had seven players in the scoring column.
The Westies had three players in double figures, led by Blackwell’s 14 points. Calhoun finished with 12 points and Duncanson had 10 in the loss, including the 1,000th of his career.
A day after suffering its first defeat of the year, the West Haven boys basketball team rebounded. Getting off to a quick start, the Westies improved to 6-1 with a 68-49 victory over East Haven Tuesday evening at West Haven High.
West Haven led by 12 points after eight minutes of play and 40-20 at the half. The 20-point lead was more than enough for West Haven in the 19-point victory.
The Westies had three players in double digits and were led by Blackwell with 21 points. Hooks finished with 18 points, while Duncanson finished with 13 and Calhoun had nine.
West Haven improved to 7-1with a win against Foran, 97-42.
West Haven controlled the game from the start, leading 26-6 after eight minutes of play and 55-19 at the half.
Blackwell was the star of the game with 42 points, while Duncanson scored 17, and 10 different players reached the scoring column.
Kyle Kearson finished with nine points for West Haven, while Adam Elkharraz added eight n the win.
West Haven improved to 8-1 with a 67-42 victory over Career Saturday afternoon.
West Haven had nine players in the scoring column and was led by Wade Sheffield with 16 points, Calhoun with 15 and Blackwell with 11. Sheffield and Belcher each drained a pair of 3-pointers in the win.
WHGB
The West Haven girls basketball team snapped a three-game losing streak with a come-from-behind 45-43 victory over Shelton Wednesday evening at West Haven High. The Westies trailed by eight points at the half, before rallying in the final eight minutes to snap their skid.
West Haven held the Lady Gaels to just 20 second half points, including 11 in the final eight minutes. The Westies outscored Shelton 30-20 in the second half.
Sophomore Amani Abuhatab led West Haven with 19 points and 10 rebounds, while Sarah Evangelista added 11 points, and Kassidy Carrano scored seven.
Clarissa Pierre led Shelton with 19 points.
In basketball, it is not always how you start, but how you finish. Just ask Kandie Everette of Wilbur Cross.
Hitting on just one field goal entering the fourth quarter, Everette broke a 43-43 tie with a pair of buckets, leading the Governors to a 58-47 Southern Connecticut Conference interdivision victory at Neil Cavallaro Court at West Haven High Friday evening.
The baskets by Everette were the daggers in the hearts of the Westies as West Haven completely lost its offensive touch in the fourth quarter, hitting on just one field goal by Tenique Gates with 3 minutes, 54 seconds to go to get the Westies within 47-45.
April Artis led all scorers with 17 points for Wilbur Cross, while Middleton had 15. Carrano led West Haven with 15 points, while Abuhatab added 12 and Gates finished with nine.
For all your West Haven sporting news throughout the year, including game articles by Mike Madera, highlights, photos and more, visit www.westieblue.com.