The West Haven/Sacred Heart Academy girls hockey team appears to be peaking at the right time. The Westie Sharks defeated the Hamden Green Dragons to win the SCC South Division Championship, defending the title they won last season.
On Wednesday evening at the Bennett Rink, the Westie Sharks defeated the Notre Dame of Fairfield Lancers 3-0 in the semifinals of the SSC tournament. Taylor Nowak got the Westie Sharks on the board just 3:41 into the game when her shot went off the Lancers’ goaltender, popped up in the air and landed in the crease before trickling across the goal line for the 1-0 lead. Nowak then set up Brooke McNabola for the second goal and McNabola found the net from the right point to make it 2-0. CC Condon iced the game early in the third period when she raced down the right side and fired a shot from the circle that eluded the Lancers’ keeper for the 3-0 final. Kyleen Crowe did the rest in net for the girls, making 22 saves to preserve the shutout victory.
The Westie Sharks advanced to the championship game against the Hamden Green Dragons with an opportunity to defend their SCC title. The Green Dragons took the early lead with a goal just 2:52 into the game on a deflection of a shot that Tatum Courtmanche never saw. The second period was all Westie Sharks with Megan Froehlich taking a Taylor Nowak pass and snapping it past the Hamden goaltender 1:09 in to knot the game 1-1. Two minutes and thirty-five seconds later, it was Froehlich again on the rebound of a Jianna Cohrs’ shot to put the girls up 2-1. The Westie Sharks would extend their lead to 3-1 when Taylor Nowak scored off a rebound of a CC Condon shot.
The Dragons let the Westie Sharks know that this would be a game fought for a full 45 minutes, when they cut the lead to 3-2 just 1:42 into the final frame. Both teams continued to put on the pressure during the third period until Froehlich completed her hat trick with a goal with 4:06 left in the game. The Dragons scored just 19 seconds later to get back with one at 4-3, setting up a frenetic, final three minutes. Hamden continued to pepper Tatum Courtmanche with shot after shot but she was equal to the task, making 46 saves, many, spectacular to preserve the victory.
Megan Froehlich earned Most Outstanding Player honors for her efforts. Coach Erin Blake was recognized for the second year in a row as the SCC Coach of the Year. Veronica Lynn and Taylor Nowak earned first team All SCC honors while sophomore Tatum Courtmanche was selected to the second team SCC.
This week, the girls began their quest for a state championship hosting Hall/Conard on Monday evening. If victorious, the girls will travel to take on the New Canaan Rams on either Friday or Saturday.
The boys hockey team got a monster performance from senior goaltender Logan Cole on Monday afternoon when Cole turned aside 51 Cheshire shots in a 4-1 victory over the Rams at Wesleyan University’s Schneider Arena. The Blue Devils took a 1-0 lead when Collin Braziel scored 6:34 into the game, assisted by Niko Kyle and Kevin Moriarty.
Kaden Morgillo made it 2-0, 3:06 into the second period and then Braziel got his second of the game with 1:04 left in the period, assisted by Niko Kyle and Robbie Forleo. The Rams got on the scoreboard with 5:30 left in the game to break the shutout but, Niko Kyle iced the game with a tally with 2:47 remaining for the 4-1 final.
On Saturday, the Westies traveled to the campus of Trinity College to take on the Glastonbury Tomahawks. The Blue Devils were shorthanded due to injuries and illness but battled with the Tomahawks. Trailing 1-0, Niko Kyle scored at 5:38 of the third period, assisted by Kaden Morgillo and Richie Greene to even the game at 1-1. Logan Cole had another outstanding game between the pipes making 44 saves but, Glastonbury was able to get the game-winner past him with 2:10 remaining to send the Westies home with a 2-1 loss.
This week, the Blue Devils traveled to Hamden to face the Green Dragons in their final, regular season game and will then find out who they will face in the CIAC Tournament when the pairings are announced on Friday at noon.
The boys swimming team dropped its final, regular season meet with the North Haven Indians 99-66 on Wednesday in North Haven. The Westies got victories from Chris D’Inzio in the 100 breaststroke and the 400 freestyle relay team of D’Inzio, Issac Gorske, Luis Lopez and Shane Taulty.