BY RANDY SCHULTZ
ALBANY, NY – It will be the Kenmore-Grand Island Devil Dogs taking on the Thousand Island-Alexandria Bay Lady Islanders in the 2016 New York State Girls High School Hockey Championship.
Four teams squared off on Friday night at the Albany Academy Ice Arena on the campus of the Albany Academies. In the first game the Lady Islanders defeated the Beekmantown Eagles, 4-1.
The Lady Islanders jumped on the Eagles in the first period, scoring three times. Their first goal was scored by Emilie Walti, with assists going to Taylor Hudon and Emily Rose.
Alex Bay scored again with a two-player advantage when Emily Rose tallied, with Keeley Rose and Kelsey Bannister assisting. Less than 30 seconds later the Lady Islanders went ahead, 3-0 with Bannister scoring and Miranda Kolb assisting.
The Eagles scored their only goal of the game early in the second stanza when Kelsey Baker put the puck past Alex Bay goalie, Kayla McCabe. Madison Flemming assisted.
The Lady Islanders put the game away mid-way through the final period when Emily Rose scored her second goal of the contest. Flemming assisted.
In the late game, the Devils Dogs downed the Canton Golden Bears, 4-3. Kenmore-Grand Island jumped out to a 1-0 lead with the periods only goal scored by Lina Mirabella. Olivia Smith got the assist.
It was all the Devils Dogs in the second stanza, scoring three times. Two of the tallies were by Smith, who scored her teams second and fourth goals. Abigail Blair had the other goal with Victoria Botticello assisting.
Down 4-0 going into the third period, Canton rallied, scoring three unanswered goals. Blake Orosz put the Golden Bears on the board to make the score, 4-1 with Elizabeth Collins assisting. Mary Kait Mace put in back-to-back goals to tighten the game at 4-3.
The Devil Dogs held off the Golden Bears in the final four minutes to win the game. The championship game will be played on Saturday at 12 noon.
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