After starting the season with three, tough losses, the West Haven hockey team got things back on track. After defeating the St. Joseph Cadets 7-5, the Westies hosted the Simsbury Trojans on Wednesday night at the Bennett Rink. After spotting the Trojans a 1-0 lead on a short-handed goal just 3:16 into the game, the Blue Devil offense kicked it into gear. EJ Pacapelli snapped off a shot from the high slot to beat the Trojans’ goaltender with 8:53 left in the first period to knot the game at 1-1 and then Colin Braziel picked the corner 23 seconds later to give the Westies a 2-1 lead. The Trojans were able to even the game up before the end of the first period.
The Westies took a 3-2 lead when Kevin Moriarty, camped in front of the Simsbury net, took a rebound of an E.J. Pacapelli shot and found the back of the net 4:56 into the second period. Just over a minute later, after a couple of golden, goalmouth opportunities, Nico Kyle gathered in a rebound, spun around and found the short side to beat the Trojan keeper to increase the lead to 4-2. The back-breaker for the Trojans came with 2.5 seconds left in the period when Nico Kyle scored again on a rebound from a Rob Forleo point shot and gave the Westies a 5-2 lead.
Moriarty scored his second of the game with 2:53 left in the game while the Trojans picked up a late goal with 32 seconds left for the 6-3 final. Logan Cole stopped 38 shots, many, spectacular in nature, to preserve the victory.
On Saturday afternoon, the Blue Devils hosted the Guilford Indians and saw their two game win streak come to an end in an 8-3 loss. The Indians jumped out to an early 3-0 lead just 9:42 into the contest before Robbie Forleo’s point shot found the back of the net at 10:31, assisted by E.J. Pacapelli to get the Westies on the board. Unfortunately for West Haven, any momentum was stopped with another Indian tally with 29 seconds left in the period that sent the teams to the locker room at 4-1.
Pacapelli cut the lead to 4-2 just 1:45 into the second period but the Indians had the answer one minute later and another at 4:10 to extend the lead to 6-2. Pacapelli would score again with 5:38 left in the period to get the Westies within 6-3 but that would be as close as they would get. Guilford tacked on two, more goals in the third period for the 8-3 final. Logan Cole finished with 16 saves while Jared Pliszka made two saves in relief between the pipes.
This week, the Blue Devils hosted the Amity Spartans on Wednesday and then will play host the East Haven/Old Lyme/Old Saybrook/East Hampton Yellow Jackets on Saturday at 11:30am.
The West Haven/Sacred Heart girls hockey team continued to roll, picking up its sixth, straight victory with a 7-0 win over the Lauralton Hall Crusaders. Shannon Siclari got the Westie Sharks on the board just 29 seconds into the contest assisted by Makenna White. Taylor Nowak then made it 2-0 assisted by Mia Celentano at 6:40 of the first period. The girls increased the lead to 3-0 when Jianna Cohrs scored 1:05 later with Megan Froehlich getting an assist.
Cohrs scored her second of the game 4:18 into the second period, then Celentano scored at 6:55 before Cohrs finished her hat trick with a tally 47 seconds later to increase the lead to 6-0. Mackenzie Gardner scored on a point shot 8:32 into the third period for the 7-0 final. Kyleen Crowe stopped all 10 shots she faced to post the shutout between the pipes.
This week, Westie Sharks hosted Guilford on Tuesday and then finish the week with a trip to the Shelton Rinks to battle the Amity/North Haven/Cheshire Blades on Saturday at 8.
The girls basketball team picked up its second win of the season with a 67-41 victory over the Harding Presidents on Tuesday night. With the teams battling in the first half, Amanda Carr hit a huge three-pointer as time expired to put the Westies up 31-19. Carr would finish with 12 points to lead the Blue Devil offense while Dynastee Francis and Diamond Dixon each picked up 11 points in the win. Also contributing in the victory were Natalia Frazer with nine points and Keegan Riccio with seven points and ten rebounds.
The Westies traveled to North Haven on Saturday afternoon and held a 9-8 lead after the first quarter but that would be their last lead of the day in a 39-30 loss to the Indians. Amanda Carr led the Blue Devils with 15 points while Ebonie Jones contributed with nine points.
This week, the Westies hosted Branford on Monday, traveled to Foran on Wednesday and travel to Shelton for a contest with the Gaels on Friday at 5:15.
The boys basketball team visited the Hamden Green Dragons on Tuesday evening. Despite 22 points by Josh Moncrieffe, the Westies were defeated 72-55. Josiah Steinman added 15 points and Marquel Bookert had nine points in the loss.
This week, the boys traveled to Branford on Monday, hosted the Foran Lions on Wednesday and will finish the week hosting the Notre Dame Green Knights on Friday at 7.