Story and Photo by Janet Schultz©
Frontier/Franklinville/LakeShore/Orchard Park (FFLOP) is heading back to the New York State Girls Varsity Ice Hockey Championships after defeating Webster 4-1 Wednesday (Feb. 19) evening. This will be FFLOPs fourth appearance at the States, winning the State Championship in 2017-18.
Typical for WNYGVIH Championships this season, the first period ended in a 0-0 tie. FFLOP’s Rachael Fix and Webster’s Mia Wambach kept the pucks at bay and the period scoreless.
First recorded statistic was a tripping penalty against Webster with 6 minutes left in the second period. However at 1:1 of the third period Jocelyn Smaczniak got one by Wambach and FFLOP goes up 1-0 as the whistle ends the second period.
Webster was not going to let go and became very physical in the third period with Molly Meyer dropping in the first goal for the Lakers just 40 seconds into the period. It took five more minutes before FFLOP’s Peyton Forcucci scored and then just 14 seconds later she dropped in another goal and took FFLOP to a 3-1 lead. With 6:48 left Gabby Sojda dropped in her own rebound and the period ends 4-1 FFLOP.
FFLOP now goes on to face Skaneateles at 4 p.m. in the semi-finals of the State Championship on Friday at the Utica Nexus Center. Adirondack and Beekmantown face off in the second semi-final at 6 p.m. Winners of those games advance to Saturday’s Championship at Noon.
Digital tickets are required and can be obtained by going to [email protected].
Photos property of NYHOL, Janet Schultz© photographer
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