by Janet Schultz, NYHOL
This league never fails to amaze! Each team is on a quest to take the Championship but they play one game at a time.
This week started out with two games on Monday evening.
First up was Niagara County visiting CASH at Northtowns. CASH came out and fired in two goals in the first period, one at 14:29 unassisted by Allison Greene. Then three minutes later Sydney Spear got a goal, assisted by Alannah Pagano and Lilly Adimey. First ends 2-0. Then Niagara County came out at 14:02 of the second and Natalie O’Brien got the goal, assisted by Kayla Persinger. CASH answers back with a goal by Emma Guzek, which proves to be the game winner, assisted by Lucy Grimaldi. It’s back to NiCo with goal by Jackson, assisted by O’Connor. Isabella Clary drops in an unassisted goal and then L. Adimey strikes, assisted by Jenny Wild and the second ends 5-2 CASH.
NiCo gets the only goal in the third period with Persinger scoring an unassisted goal at 3:34. NiCo replaced goalie Annie Riek with one minute left to go, giving Mariela Mulready a chance to save 4 of 4 shots at the end. The game ends 5-3 in favor of CASH.
Kylie Paige stopped 31 of 28 SOG and Riek stopped 15 of 20 for NiCo.
In the cold outdoors LID faced off with HEWS at Riverworks. With no scoring in the first period, both teams came out hungry and LID scored two goals and HEWS scored one for a 2-1 lead for LID. In the third they both scored and the game ends 3-2 in favor of LID.
Scoring for HEWS Olivia Wade, a powerplay goal assisted by E Cooper in the second and in the third it was Wade again, unassisted. Natalie Davidson faced 18 SOG/stopping 15.
LID’s Morganne Dee scored the first goal unassisted in the second period and then Hailey Keppner tied the game, assisted by Dee. Keppner also had the game-winner on a powerplay, assisted by Sara O’Donnell and Dee. MacKenzie Walkowiak stopped 19 of 21 SOG.
A single match-up on Tuesday night at Lincoln with Williamsville taking on Kenmore/Grand Island. This was a fast-paced game with a lot of puck movement from one end to the other and the goaltenders working hard.
Williamsville struck first off the stick of Ellie Schau, assisted by Diana Martucci. Williamsville’s Schau came in again, unassisted taking Williamsville to a 2-0 lead with just seconds left. But never say never, KGI’s Emiliana Cassillo was at the net, with the puck in it, assisted by Savannah Samplinkski just before the buzzer went off and it was 2-1 Williamsville. Both teams scored in the second with Williamsville’s Aizah-Rose Thompson getting the game winner on a powerplay, assisted by Molly DiGiullo and Schhau. KGI’s Isabelle Bourgeault scored, assisted by Isabella Burt. Second ends 3-2, as did the third with no scoring.
In goal for Williamsville was seventh grader Brynn Bacak who made 10 saves on 12 shots. For KGI it was Carolyn Bourgeault making 24 saves on 27 shots.
CASH’s Hannah Barrett had her first shut out in a 2-0 victory over LID on Wednesday evening.
Along with being LID’s Senior Night it was the first night one parent was allowed in to watch their daughter play. No parents took part in the traditional Senior Ceremony but all six LID players were recognized and could wave to their parent in the stands. We congratulate Amanda Cole, Maya Lasker, Hailey Keppner, Morganne Dee, Brooklyn Warren and Dylan Gorski.
No scoring in the first period and a change in jerseys from the black to white for CASH, making things a little easier to see and making the game a little unique.
Allison Greene scored the game winning goal unassisted in the second period, ending with a 1-0 score. Then Emma Guzdek scored the second goal in the third, assisted by Sara Barrett and the game ends 2-0.
In goal for LID was Dylan Gorski who made 26 of 28 shots and H Barrett with the win stopping all 27 SOG.
A double-header Thursday night with HEWS at FLOP and Williamsville at Monsignor Martin.
The Williamsville/MM game got a lot of play as the teams that seem to be on everyone’s radar as potential champions, Williamsville defending the 2020 titles.
Action wise, this was one of the best games this season and also a battle of goaltenders with Sara Will at the MM end and Elizabeth Timby in for Williamsville.
Monsignor Martin took the lead right off when Grace Russo scored at 12:47 of the first, assisted by Mia Boyd and Camryn Brownschidle. Lara Beecher dropped in an unassisted goal at 10:31 and the period ended 2-0 in favor of MM. Monsignor Martin again in the second period with Beecher getting her second of the night, assisted by Boyd and Abby Marion. Second period is 3-0 MM. Williamsville worked hard in the second period getting two goals, both by Vanessa Willick. Assists for Williamsville go to Ella Murphy, Elizabeth Jackson and Molly Martin.
Will stopped 26 of 28 shots and Timby, 16 of 19.
Another no scoring the first period was happening at HEWS vs FLOP at Hamburg Nike. HEWS scored first after returning for the second period on a shot by Jackie Supples, assisted by Riley Andzel. Then FLOP’s Gabby Messing scored, assisted by Samantha Torgerson and the second ends tied at one. HEWS Olivia Wade scored the game-winner at 3:25 of the third, assisted by Elizabeth O’Brien and Andzel to end the game 2-1 in favor of HEWS.
Lauryn Brown was the winning goalie with 26 saves on 28 shots and Kerrigan McCarthy was in for FLOP with 13 saves on 14 shots.
In a non-leauge matchup it was KGI 6, LID 2 on Thursday night at Lincoln. Scoring for KGI were Emiliana Cassillio (3; Isabella Jayme (2); Isabella Bourgeault. Goalie duties were split with Samantha Horne 16 saves on 17 shots; Allison Hill 15/16 and Jordan Hofschneider (5/5).
For LID is was Sara O’Donnell, Sydney Radecki scoring and MacKenzie Walkowiak making 23 of 26 shots and Carly Irzycki stopping 10 of 13.
So this week ends with a very interesting team placement. Monsignor Martin and Williamsville are at the top. With Williamsville playing four games they are 3-1-0 and MM is perfect at 3-0 in three games. CASH sits at third with a 2-1 record followed by NICo, LID, HEWS, FLOP and KGI.
Historically we look and see two former championship teams at the bottom, two former championship teams at the top and movement in the middle of teams that have all spent time at the very bottom over the past ten years. The differences…several teams have very young teams and some a shorter bench than in the past. In other words, once again in the WNYGVIH League it’s anyone’s trophy!
Up this week:
Monday, March 1: KGI at Niagara County, 4 p.m. Hyde Park
FLOP at CASH 4:30 p.m. Northtowns
Tuesday, March 2: LID at Williamsville, 4:30 p.m. Northtowns
MM at KGI, 7:40 p.m. Lincoln
Wednesday, March 4: LID at MM, 4:30 p.m. North Buffalo
NiCo at FLOP, 4:30 p.m. Nike
HEWS at CASH, 4:30 p.m. Northtowns
