By Randy Schultz
AMHERST, NY — The semifinals of the Western New York Girls Ice Hockey Federation almost turned into two major upsets Thursday afternoon at the Northtown Center. In the first game Frontier-Lake Shore-Orchard Park (FLOP), the defending Federation champions, squeezed by Kenmore-Grand Island, 1-0.
In the second game Williamsville, who just a few days ago was crowned the New York State Girls High School Hockey champions, lost in an upset to a defensive-minded Lancaster-Iroquois-Depew (LID) team, 3-0.
In the first game the two teams were scoreless in the first period. FLOP finally broke the deadlock when Keegan Shanahan scored at the 5:34 of the second stanza. The only goal of the game was assisted by Mary Kromer and Gabby Messing.
Tori Cottrell posted the shutout in goal for FLOP, stopping 21 Kenmore-Grand Island shots. At the other end of the ice Carolyn Bourgeault turned aside 21 of the 22 shots she faced.
In the second game LID jumped out to an early 1-0 lead when Bethany Horvatis scored at the 2:06 mark of the first period. Morganne Dee assisted on the goal.
The score remained that way until the 12:13 mark of the third period when LID’s Jersey Phillips scored from the point to make it 2-0. It was an unassisted goal.
Less than two minutes later LID iced the game when Horvatis netted her second goal of the game into an empty Williamsville net.
Dylan Gorski was outstanding in goal for LID, stopping all 27 Williamsville shots she faced. Elizabeth Timby stopped 18 of the 20 shots she faced.
FLOP and LID now move on to the Federation championship game to be played on Sunday, Feb. 24 at Harborcenter in Buffalo. It is currently scheduled for a 7 p.m. start time.
