Looking to snap a two-game skid to start the season, the West Haven co-op hockey team played a solid first 11 minutes against a talented Fairfield squad in Bridgeport. The home team then took over.
Scoring four times in the final 4:33 of the opening period, Fairfield topped the Westies 8-0 Monday evening. With the loss, West Haven fell to 0-3.
The Westies had a pair of solid scoring chances prior to Fairfield’s outburst in the opening period, but a 3-on-1 break with Marcus Burrows, Mike Madera, and Brady Price failed to produce a goal. Jason Alling’s point shot was also denied with a glove save by Fairfield’s Connor Zavory.
Javed Ullah, who made 17 saves in the game, was then beaten twice by Owen Gibbons within 42 seconds, before Charlie Swanson scored 1:44 later for a 3-0 lead.
The Westies had another scoring chance in the final minute of the period, but Haygen Axelrod’s shot, which was deflected in from by Sam Marquez, was turned away.
West Haven continued to get its opportunities in the opening minute of the second, but Jayden Spreyer was turned aside from the slot. Trailing 5-0, Thomas Porto also had a shot knocked aside from the slot.
West Haven then had two breakaways late in the second period, but attempts by Spreyer and Marquez were denied.
Kiryl Astrovukh played well with 12 saves, allowing just two goals, including the final in the last eight seconds of the game.
While the search for its first victory is still ongoing, West Haven is making strides. Those strides were not enough Wednesday afternoon against Xavier.
Failing to score on a host of scoring opportunities, and watching as Xavier scored three times in the third period, West Haven fell to the Falcons 5-0 in Cromwell. With the loss, the Westies fell to 0-4 on the year.
The Westies had their chances almost immediately in the game as Yousaf Ullah rang a shot off the post just 20 seconds in. A costly penalty led to a Xavier goal to put West Haven behind 1-0 3:54 in, but the chances were there throughout the first.
Madera had a golden opportunity on a breakaway, but his shot just sailed over the right corner 6:09 in. Porto was denied in close 1:18 later, and Madera was turned aside in front with 4:45 left in the opening period.
An evenly played second period saw more of the same after Xavier took a 2-0 lead just 20 seconds in. Price was denied from in front 4:02 in, and Porto had his shot from the right faceoff circle knocked away 1:08 later.
The Westies put on the early pressure in the third period, but a backhander in front by the Falcons found the back of the net 2:37 in.
From there, the Westies had more opportunities. Spreyer was turned away in front with a pad save 3:10 in, JJ Alling had a shot turned aside from the right faceoff circle with 4:30 gone by, and Axelrod’s shot from the point was kicked away later in the period.
The West Haven/Sacred Heart Academy girls hockey team won its fourth straight contest with a 2-1 decision over St. Joseph/Trumbull Tuesday evening. With the victory, the Westie Sharks improved to 5-1 on the year.
Isabelle Desrosiers made 15 saves in the win.
In a tightly contested game, the Westie Sharks took a 1-0 lead in the first period when Julianna Picard scored just 2:10 into the contest off assists from Geena Montano and Taylor Alfano.
With the game even at one, West Haven/Sacred Heart Academy took the lead for good when Ashley Welch scored off an assist from Chase Ireland with 50 seconds remaining in the second.
Welch’s goal held up as the Westie Sharks won their fourth straight contest.
The West Haven boys basketball team improved to 2-1 with a 70-52 victory over Norwalk Monday evening. The Westies led by 16 at the half and never looked back in their second straight victory.
Jared Butler led the Westies with 30 points, while Jayce Perry scored 14. Adam Elkharraz scored nine and Isaiah Jackson added eight in the win.
Butler scored 10 points in the opening quarter to help West Haven to a 16-6 lead, before he added eight more in the second quarter. Perry also scored four times in the quarter.
Butler and Perry combined for 11 points in the third quarter as the Westies led 44-31. Butler, Elkharraz, and Jackson each scored six points in the final quarter when West Haven scored 26 points.
After a pair of victories, West Haven knew it was in for quite a challenge when the team faced Kolbe Cathedral at the Floyd Little Athletic Center Wednesday afternoon. Despite a valiant effort, the Westies fell 55-45.
Najimi George proved to be a thorn in West Haven’s side as he scored 17 points and pulled down 17 rebounds.
West Haven was hurt in the second quarter as Kolbe went on a 15-5 run to turn a two-point game into a 29-17 Kolbe lead at the half. The Westies never recovered.
Despite an evenly played contest the rest of the way, the 12-point first half difference was too much to overcome.
Bernett Scott led West Haven with 11 points. Perry scored 10 and Randy Alston added nine in the loss.
The West Haven girls basketball team responded from a tough loss against Hand-Madison with a resounding 73-37 victory at Jonathan Law Tuesday evening.
After struggling to score against the Tigers, West Haven came out firing in Milford with 34 first half points. The Westies had a balanced scoring attack in their second win of the season with nine different players scoring.
Isabella Fiorillo led the way with 15 points, Amani Abuhatab and Noelle Lawrence each scored 14, Kassidy Carrano scored 10, and Arianna Titus scored eight.
The Westies jumped in front quickly with 16 first quarter points as six different players scored, led by Fiorillo with five and Dealyce Howard with four.
Lawrence connected on three 3-pointers in the second quarter, and Fiorillo and Abuhatab each scored three points in the stanza. The Westies put the game away with 16 more in the third as Fiorillo scored seven and Titus added six points.
After a rebound performance and a dominant victory over Jonathan Law, West Haven was looking to carry that performance into Wallingford. The Westies could not do so and fell to Sheehan 63-58 Thursday evening, falling to 2-2 on the year.
Abuhatab led the way for the Westies with 25 points, while Carrano scored 13 points. Ciara Harp scored eight points and Fiorillo added seven.
Abuhatab scored eight of her team’s 11 first quarter points, with the other points coming on a 3-pointer from Fiorillo. Abuhatab added six more in the second quarter, Harp added five more, and Fiorillo scored four.
Carrano drained three 3-pointers as part of West Haven’s 13-point third quarter. Abuhatab added eight more in the fourth and Carrano had four, but it was not enough in the five-point loss.
West Haven improved to 3-2 with a 67-40 victory over Norwalk in the opening round of the West Haven Holiday Tournament Wednesday afternoon at West Haven High.
The Westies led by 14 at the half and pulled away in the second half with a 29-16 run. West Haven limited Norwalk to just three second half field goals.
Abuhatab led all scorers with 23 points and also added 15 rebounds in the win. Lawrence scored nine points, and Carrano and Fiorillo each scored eight points for West Haven.
Abuhatab led West Haven with nine first quarter points as the Westies took a 14-12 lead. West Haven then pulled away in the second quarter.
A 24-12 run was led by Abuhatab with eight points and Harp with six points. Howard and Ella Morgan each scored four points in the decisive second quarter.
West Haven increased the lead to 52-31 in the third quarter as five different players were in the scoring column, led by Fiorillo with five.
The cycle for alternating wins and losses unfortunately continued for the Westies Thursday afternoon. Held to just 16 points in the first half, the Westies rallied but fell 57-50 to Hamden in the final of the West Haven Christmas Tournament at West Haven High.
West Haven struggled offensively in the opening half, managing just three field goals in each of the first two quarters. The 16 points also came from just two players as both Abuhatab and Harp each scored eight points.
The Westies picked up the offense in the third quarter, nearly matching the first half output with 14 points. Abuhatab hit a pair of 3-pointers, and Lawrence and Fiorillo each drained one.
Looking to mount a comeback, the Westies hurt themselves in the final eight minutes by missing six free throws. West Haven was just 8-of-15 from the free throw line in the game.
Harp led West Haven’s 20-point fourth quarter with 10 points, while Fiorillo and Abuhatab each had three points.
Harp led West Haven with 18 points, Abuhatab added 17 points, and Fiorillo scored six in the loss.
For all your West Haven sporting news throughout the year, including game articles by Mike Madera, highlights, photos and more, visit www.westieblue.com.