WestieBlue
THE HOME OF WEST HAVEN SPORTS
GIRLS HOCKEY 2022-2023
All-State Players - Gabi Prisco '15; Gabi Prisco '16; Gabi Prisco '17; Veronica Lynn '17; Veronica Lynn '18; Taylor Nowak '18; Veronica Lynn '19; Taylor Nowak '19; Mackenzie Gardner '21; Grace Nowak '21
West Haven celebrates a goal against Hamden, December 6, 2022. Photo courtesy of Todd Dandelske.
WH/SHA tops Hamden
Westie Sharks open season with 4-2 victory
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(December 6, 2022) - The West Haven/Sacred Heart Academy girls hockey team looks plenty different from the team which lost to Guilford in overtime of the Southern Connecticut Conference finals a year ago. While the faces change, the goals remain the same, competing for the league and state titles.
The Westie Sharks got off to a good start to the 2022-2023 season with a 4-2 victory over rival Hamden Tuesday evening at the Edward L. Bennett Rink in West Haven.
Julianna Montano scored twice, including once on the power play, and Julianna Picard had a goal and an assist in the season-opening win. Isabelle Desrosiers made 23 saves in the victory for the Westie Sharks.
Montano got the Westie Sharks off to a quick start when she scored off an assist from Picard for a power play goal just 3:05 into the contest. The lead was short-lived as Hamden evened the contest 1:19 later.
West Haven/Sacred Heart Academy took the lead for good with a pair of second period goals. Montano scored an unassisted goal 2:34 into the middle period for a 2-1 advantage, and Melissa Tsakonas scored with 2:05 remaining in the period for a 3-1 lead.
Hamden cut into the 3-1 deficit just 2:56 into the third, but Picard’s first goal of the year 2:25 later restored the two-goal lead.
Rally falls Short
New Canaan holds off Westie Sharks
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(December 8, 2022) - Fresh off an opening victory over Hamden, the West Haven/Sacred Heart Academy girls hockey team faced another tough task when it traveled to play New Canaan. The Westie Sharks faced an early deficit, and rallied to tie, before falling on the road to the Rams 6-3.
New Canaan took a 3-0 lead in the opening period, before the Westie Sharks were able to settle down. After a scoreless second period, WH/SHA picked up its intensity.
Looking for a spark, Melissa Tsakonas gave the Westie Sharks exactly what they needed when she scored just 1:44 into the third period off assists from Rachel Harrison and Julianna Montano.
Less than five minutes later, the Westie Sharks were within a goal when Julianna Picard scored off an assist from Anne Plunkett. Just 48 seconds later, the game was tied when Ashley Welch scored an unassisted goal.
The rally from the three-goal deficit had the Westies back in the contest, but New Canaan took the momentum away just 20 seconds later with the go-ahead goal. The Rams added another tally 2:40 later, and closed the scoring with 2:19 left in the contest.
Isabelle Desrosiers made 35 saves in the loss for the Westie Sharks.
Rebound Victory
Westie Sharks top Amity/NH/Cheshire
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(December 13, 2022) - The West Haven / Sacred Heart Academy girls hockey team bounced back from its first loss of the season with a 9-3 victory over Amity/North Haven/Cheshire at the Edward L. Bennett Rink Tuesday evening. With the victory, the Westie Sharks improved to 2-1 on the year.
Melissa Tsakonas and Julianna Picard led the way with two goals apiece as seven different players scored and 11 different players were in the scoring column.
The Westie Sharks led 2-0 after one period as Anne Plunkett scored off assists from Picard and Taylor Alfano with 7:24 remaining in the period. Julianna Montano increased the lead to a pair of goals with an unassisted tally with 1:25 remaining in the opening period.
West Haven / Sacred Heart Academy put the game away in the second period with a pair of goals in 25 seconds as Picard scored off an assist from Plunkett, and Tsakonas scored off an assist from Olivia Twarowski 4:48 into the middle period.
Leading 4-1, the Westie Sharks added two more goals in the final minutes of the period for a 6-1 advantage.
Kelly Manfield gave the team a 5-1 advantage off assists from Chase Ireland and Emma Bausch, and Ashley Welch scored off assists from Bausch and Alfano in the final second of the period.
Tsakonas scored an unassisted goal 44 seconds into the third, and Picard followed suit 2:54 later. Rachel Harrison capped the scoring for the Westie Sharks at the 8:16 mark.
Evelyn Twarowski made 16 saves in the win for the Westie Sharks.
Overtime Winner
Picard leads Westie Sharks to win over Guilford
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(December 15, 2022) - Traveling to East Haven to face Guilford, the West Haven / Sacred Heart Academy girls hockey team knew it was in for a tough game. Julianna Picard and Evelyn Twarowski were up to the challenge.
Behind three goals and an assist from Picard, including the game-winner in overtime, and 35 saves from Twarowski, the Westie Sharks topped Guilford 4-3. With the victory, West Haven / Sacred Heart Academy improved to 3-1 on the year.
The Westie Sharks took a 1-0 lead just 36 seconds into the contest when Anne Plunkett scored off an assist from Picard. Guilford evened the game with less than five minutes remaining in the opening period, but the Westie Sharks responded when Picard scored an unassisted goal with 2:48 left in the period.
With the game even at two in the third period, Picard was at it again, scoring an unassisted goal with 1:58 remaining for a 3-2 advantage. Guilford needed just 1:11 to respond to send the game to overtime.
Picard was not going to let her team come away without the victory as her third unassisted goal with 3:20 gone by in overtime gave the Westies the win.
Twarowski was solid in goal, making 12 saves in the first period, 10 more in the third, and four in overtime before Picard’s winner.
WH/SHA tops Hand
Blake picks up 100th career victory
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(December 17, 2022) - The West Haven/Sacred Heart Academy hockey team posted its fourth win in five games with a 10-3 road victory over Hand Saturday evening. The win was also a milestone as it was the 100th for head coach Erin Blake.
Anne Plunkett, Julianna Picard and Olivia Twarowski led the offense as each scored twice and added an assist. Rachel Harrison, Julianna Montano, Melissa Tsakonas, and Chase Ireland each added a goal, while Harrison also had an assist. The Westie Sharks had 10 players in the scoring column.
Trailing 1-0, the Westies Sharks took a 3-1 lead after one period on goals by Twarowski, Ireland, and Picard. Hand got within 3-2 in the second, but once again the Westie Sharks went on another run.Goals by Plunkett, Tsakonas, Picard and another by Plunkett put the Westie Sharks on top 7-3 after two.
Twarowski, Julianna Montano and Harrison ended the scoring in the third period.
High Five
WH/SHA improves to 5-1 with win
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(December 20, 2022) - 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.
WH/SHA blanks Hamden
Westie Sharks improve to 6-1 with 2-0 victory
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(January 4, 2023) - The West Haven / Sacred Heart Academy girls hockey team won its fifth straight contest and improved to 6-1 with a 2-0 victory over Hamden Wednesday evening.
Isabelle Desrosiers was solid in net, making 24 saves to post the shutout. Desrosiers was particularly effective in the third period with 10 saves to preserve the shutout.
While Desrosiers made seven saves in each of the first two periods to keep Hamden off the scoreboard, the Westie Sharks scored the only goal they would need in the second period as Olivia Twarowski scored off assists from Kelly Manfield and Rachel Harrison at the 5:50 mark.
The Westie Sharks picked up an insurance goal when Anne Plunkett scored off an assist from Geena Montano at the 14:36 mark of the third period for a 2-0 advantage.
WH/SHA falls to Guilford
Defensive effort not enough for Westie Sharks
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(January 10, 2023) - The West Haven / Sacred Heart Academy girls hockey team dropped its second straight contest with a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Guilford Tuesday evening at the Edward L. Bennett Rink in West Haven. Despite a solid defensive effort and clutch goaltending from Isabelle Desrosiers, the Westie Sharks could not pull out the victory.
Desrosiers was tough in net as she stopped 18 shots for the Westie Sharks, including nine in the third period. Unfortunately for the Westie Sharks, Guilford goaltender Kadence Epke was equally impressive, turning aside 29 West Haven / Sacred Heart Academy shots, including 14 in the second period.
Trailing 1-0, the Westie Sharks got the equalizer with 6:34 remaining in the contest as Olivia Twarowski scored off an assist from Ashley Welch.
The tying goal would hold up for 3:08, before Guilford scored the winner when Julia Crisci scored off an assist from Isabella Jackowicz.
The Westie Sharks had just seven shots in the final period, with Epke coming up big in goal for Guilford.
Simsbury tops WH/SHA
Westie Sharks fall 3-2
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(January 14, 2023) - The West Haven / Sacred Heart Academy girls hockey team has hit a rough patch. Unable to score the equalizer in the final nine minutes, the Westie Sharks fell 3-2 at Simsbury Saturday evening.
The loss was the third straight for the Westie Sharks and dropped their record to 6-4 on the season.
Isabelle Desrosiers made 18 saves in the contest as the team played solid defensively. Desrosiers made 11 saves combined in the first two periods and seven in the third.
Trailing 1-0, the Westie Sharks evened the contest when Rachel Harrison scored an unassisted goal in the second period.
Simsbury scored late in the second and early in the third for a 3-1 lead, but the Westie Sharks battled back. Julianna Picard scored off an assist from Anne Plunkett with 9:02 remaining, but the Westie Sharks could not get the equalizer.
Losing Streak Over
WH/SHA tops Masuk 5-1
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(January 17, 2023) - The West Haven / Sacred Heart Academy girls hockey team snapped its three-game losing streak with a 5-1 victory over Masuk Tuesday evening at the Edward L. Bennett Rink in West Haven. With the victory, the Westie Sharks improved to 7-4 on the year.
Anne Plunkett scored twice, Julianna Montano had a goal and two assists, and Geena Montano recorded a pair of assists in the win. Isabelle Desrosiers made 18 saves for the Westie Sharks.
West Haven / Sacred Heart Academy scored the only goal of the first period, just five minutes in, when Julianna Montano scored an unassisted goal.
The Westie Sharks increased the lead to 3-0 with a pair of second period goals as Julianna Picard provided the second goal off assists from Julianna Montano and Geena Montano 4:26 in, before Taylor Alfano scored an unassisted goal with 46 seconds remaining in the period for a 3-0 advantage.
Plunkett helped put the game away in the third period with a pair of goals as she scored a short-handed goal off an assist from Julianna Montano 2:17 into the third for a 4-0 advantage.
Leading 4-1, Plunkett gave the Westie Sharks some breathing room when she scored off assists from Geena Montano and Picard with 5:25 remaining for a 5-1 advantage.
Rally falls Short
Hand tops WH/SHA in OT
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(January 21, 2023) - Looking to keep the momentum from four days earlier when the West Haven / Sacred Heart Academy girls hockey team had a solid victory over Masuk, the Westie Sharks were unable to do so.
Despite rallying with two goals in the final 1:19 to force overtime, West Haven / Sacred Heart Academy fell to Hand 5-4 in overtime Saturday afternoon at the Edward L. Bennett Rink in West Haven. With their fourth loss in five games, the Westie Sharks fell to 7-5 on the year.
Trailing 4-2, West Haven / Sacred Heart Academy inched closer when Julianna Montano scored with 1:19 remaining in the third. With the pressure on, Julianna Montano scored her second of the period off an assist from Anne Plunkett with 36 seconds remaining in regulation.
The hard work of the Westie Sharks went for naught when Hand scored the game-winner at the 3:02 mark of overtime.
West Haven / Sacred Heart Academy took a 1-0 lead just 4:44 into the game on a goal by Heather Fonda off an assist from Taylor Alfano. Hand evened the game 1:08 later, before the Westie Sharks took a 2-1 lead on a goal by Julianna Picard off an assist from Chase Ireland with 1:11 left in the second period.
Hand scored the first three goals of the third period, before West Haven / Sacred Heart Academy staged its late rally.
Isabelle Desrosiers made 26 saves in the loss for West Haven / Sacred Heart Academy.
WH/SHA tops Ridgefield
Twarowski, Montano, Plunkett, Alfano lead the way
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(January 24, 2023) - Following a tough loss to Hand, the West Haven / Sacred Heart Academy girls hockey team was looking to get back on track. Traveling to Ridgefield, the Westie Sharks did exactly that.
Behind 27 saves from Evelyn Twarowski, West Haven / Sacred Heart Academy defeated Ridgefield 4-2 on the road Tuesday evening. With the victory, West Haven / Sacred Heart Academy won its second contest in three games and improved to 8-5 on the year.
Twarowski was impressive from the start with six saves in the first period, but she got even better as the game went on with nine saves in the second period and 12 more in the third.
Geena Montano, Taylor Alfano, and Anne Plunkett led the offense as Montano finished with two goals and an assist, Alfano had one goal and two assists, and Plunkett finished with three assists.
West Haven / Sacred Heart Academy scored the lone goal of the opening period when Alfano tallied off an assist from Geena Montano.
After Ridgefield evened the game early in the second, Julianna Picard got the Westie Sharks back on top off assists from Alfano and Plunkett for a 2-1 lead after two.
Ridgefield again evened the game early in the third, but Geena Montano gave the Westie Sharks the lead 2:43 into the third and added an insurance tally with 4:22 remaining. Plunkett assisted on both goals, while Alfano added an assist on the second goal by Montano.
WH/SHA tops Amity/NH/Cheshire
Picard, Montano, lead Westie Sharks
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(January 26, 2023) - The West Haven / Sacred Heart Academy girls hockey team won its third contest in four games and improved to 9-5 on the year with a 4-2 victory over Amity/North Haven/Cheshire in Hamden Thursday afternoon.
The Westie Sharks were led by Julianna Picard with two goals and an assist and Geena Montano with one goal and two assists. Evelyn Twarowski made 22 saves in the victory, including nine in the second period.
West Haven / Sacred Heart Academy took a 1-0 lead in the first period when Montano scored off an assist from Picard. Montano then set up Ashley Welch for a 2-0 lead late in the first, before the Blades scored three minutes into the second period to get within a goal.
Less than two minutes later, Picard scored off assists from Montano and Taylor Alfano. When Picard scored the first goal of the third period, the Westie Sharks had a commanding 4-1 lead.
Blanked
Westie Sharks fall to East Catholic 2-0
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(January 27, 2023) - Having won two games in a row and three of four entering Friday evening’s contest at East Catholic, the West Haven / Sacred Heart Academy girls hockey team was looking to keep the momentum going.
East Catholic had other ideas. After two scoreless periods, East Catholic scored twice in the final 8:09 to top the Westie Sharks 2-0.
Isabelle Desrosiers was solid in goal for the Westie Sharks, making 29 saves in the contest. Desrosiers made 10 saves in the first period, 12 in the second, and seven more in the third.
On the flip side, the Westie Sharks (9-6) managed just 14 shots in the game, including six in the first period and five more in the third.
Greenwich tops WH/SHA
Westie Sharks fall 4-2
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(January 31, 2023) - The West Haven/Sacred Heart Academy girls hockey team knew it was going to be in for a battle Tuesday evening at the Edward L. Bennet Rink in West Haven. Turns out, the Westie Sharks were correct.
Despite 22 saves from Isabelle Desrosiers, including 12 in the third period, West Haven/Sacred Heart Academy fell to Greenwich 4-2. The loss was the second straight for the Westie Sharks and dropped their record to 9-7.
In a game which featured 10 penalties, West Haven/Sacred Heart Academy took the lead 7:08 into the contest on an unassisted goal by Geena Montano.
Greenwich responded to even the contest 5:02 later and went on to take a 3-1 lead, before Ashley Welch scored off assists from Julianna Picard and Anne Plunkett with 6:33 remaining in the middle period.
The Westie Sharks never got the equalizer and Greenwich scored in the final 32 seconds to seal the contest.
Skid Over
Westie Sharks top Trumbull/St. Joseph 4-2
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(February 4, 2023) - The West Haven / Sacred Heart Academy girls hockey team snapped a two-game losing streak and improved to 10-7 with a 4-2 victory over Trumbull / St. Joseph Saturday evening in Shelton.
Rachel Harrison led the offense with three goals, and Julianna Picard had a goal and an assist. Isabelle Desrosiers made 21 saves in the win for the Westie Sharks.
Trailing 1-0, the Westie Sharks evened the contest with 8:53 left in the opening period as Harrison scored an unassisted goal.
West Haven / Sacred Heart Academy trailed 2-1 in the second, but Harrison answered again with a goal off an assist from Picard with 3:53 remaining in the middle period.
The Westie Sharks then won the game with two goals in the third period. Harrison’s hat trick with 6:42 remaining off an assist from Anne Plunkett gave West Haven / Sacred Heart Academy a 3-2 lead, before Picard iced the game with an unassisted tally with 1:31 remaining.
WH/SHA tops Masuk
Picard, Montano, Plunkett lead way
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(February 8, 2023) - The West Haven / Sacred Heart Academy girls hockey team won its second consecutive contest and improved to 11-7 with a 6-4 victory over Masuk Wednesday evening in Shelton.
Julianna Picard led the Westie Sharks with four goals and two assists, Anne Plunkett had four assists, and Geena Montano recorded two goals and an assist. Isabelle Desrosiers made 35 saves in the win for the Westie Sharks, including 13 in the second period.
West Haven / Sacred Heart Academy trailed 1-0 before Picard got going off an assist from Rachel Harrison with 4:13 left in the opening period. The Westie Sharks trailed 2-1 after one period, but they scored the first three goals of the second period and led 5-3 after two periods of play.
Picard evened the contest at two 3:51 into the middle period off assists from Plunkett and Montano, before Montano gave the Westie Sharks the lead for good off assists from Picard and Plunkett 1:42 later.
Just 24 seconds later, Taylor Alfano set up Picard for a 4-2 lead. West Haven / Sacred Heart Academy increased its lead to 5-3 with 47 seconds remaining in the middle period as Montano scored off assists from Picard and Plunkett.
The Westie Sharks got some breathing room when Picard scored off assists from Ashley Welch and Plunkett with 7:31 left for a 6-3 advantage.
WH/SHA tops Ridgefield
Picard scores three in win
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(February 14, 2023) - The West Haven / Sacred Heart Academy girls hockey team won its third straight contest with a 4-2 decision over Ridgefield Tuesday evening. The win helped the Westie Sharks improve to 12-7 on the year.
Julianna Picard led the way with three goals and Isabelle Desrosiers made 17 saves in the victory at the Edward L. Bennett Rink in West Haven.
The Westie Sharks never trailed in the contest and took a 1-0 lead in the first period as Picard scored off an assist from Anne Plunkett at the 5:14 mark.
Picard increased the lead to 2-0 in the second period when she scored off assists from Geena Montano and Taylor Alfano, before Julianna Montano increased the margin to 3-0 with a goal 1:47 later.
After Ridgefield got within a pair of goals, Picard restored the three-goal lead 1:09 later with 1:41 left in the middle period off an assist from Ashley Welch.
Senior Victory
Desrosiers posts victory in regular season finale
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(February 16, 2023) - The West Haven / Sacred Heart Academy hockey team closed the regular season with its fourth straight win and improved to 13-7 with a 3-1 Senior Night victory over Woodstock Academy Thursday evening at Bennett Rink.
Isabelle Desrosiers had 13 saves, with seven coming in the second period, and three different players scored to close the regular season. The Westie Sharks finished with five different players recording points.
The Westie Sharks took a 3-0 lead after one period with three goals in the first 10 minutes of the game. Melissa Tsakonas gave the Westie Sharks a 1-0 lead off an assist from Heather Fonda 1:59 in, Rachel Harrison increased the lead to 2-0 with an unassisted goal at the 7:03 mark, before Anne Plunkett scored off an assist from Olivia Twarowski.
On to the Finals
WH/SHA tops Guilford in SCC semifinals
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(February 22, 2023) - Since 2016, either the Guilford co-op or West Haven / Sacred Heart Academy hockey teams have been a representative in the Southern Connecticut Conference finals. They have even met along the way, including last year’s title game won by Guilford in overtime.
It comes as no surprise the two would meet again this year after splitting a pair of one-goal games, with both teams winning on the road.
In a much-anticipated battle, it was the top-seeded Westie Sharks who came out on top. Behind a balanced scoring attack and the goaltending of Isabelle Desrosiers, West Haven / Sacred Heart Academy topped fourth-seeded Guilford co-op 5-1 in the SCC semifinals at the Edward L. Bennett Rink in West Haven.
With the victory, the Westie Sharks advance to Saturday evening’s SCC final against third-seeded Hamden co-op, a 4-2 winner over second-seeded Hand, at 7:30 p.m. in West Haven.
West Haven / Sacred Heart Academy had seven different players in the scoring column, with Juliana Gonzalez, Ashley Welch and Taylor Alfano each recording a goal and an assist. Desrosiers made 20 saves in the win.
“That’s exactly what we have been saying,” West Haven / Sacred Heart Academy head coach Erin Blake said of the balanced attack. “We have been working on following shots, getting rebounds, and having that grit. From the beginning of the season, we have showed that and that’s why they are where they are. It was a full team effort.”
Desrosiers was the key early as she turned aside seven Guilford shots in the opening period, including a stop of Emma Clifford with 8:17 remaining in the opening period.
After early pressure, the Westie Sharks took a 1-0 lead with 6:05 remaining in the middle period when Gonzalez put in a rebound of a Welch shot past Guilford goalie Kadence Epke.
“It is always a tough game with Guilford,” Blake said. “Last year, losing to them in the SCC finals, was tough. It is always back and forth, so it is anybody’s game. Both teams showed up, but we got ahead on them. (Kadence) Epke is strong in net. She is following in Maddie’s (Epke) footsteps. She is an amazing goalie. We knew she was going to be difficult to get by.”
Guilford wasted no time coming back, needing just 27 seconds to respond when Jordan King scored off an assist from Julia Crisci.
With the action going back and forth, West Haven / Sacred Heart Academy took the lead for good when Alfano took a pass from Heather Fonda and ripped a shot to the top corner past Epke with 2:24 left in the second for a 2-1 lead.
“It was definitely a big team effort,” Alfano said. “The pass from Heather Fonda definitely was a key play and the screen in front played a huge role in that.”
West Haven / Sacred Heart Academy controlled the play in the third period, holding a 15-6 shot advantage and scoring the only three goals.
Julianna Montano and Anne Plunkett were denied early, but Welch found the back of the net off assists from Gonzalez and Alfano with 6:11 remaining.
“The scoreboard doesn’t show how good of a game it was,” Guilford coach Rick Binkowski said after his team finished the season 10-11. “They had a couple of bounces go their way and we had some minor mistakes which hurt us. These girls fought really hard. It is always a tough game when we come down here to West Haven. They are a strong team. They always are. Congratulations to them for sure, but our girls have been through a lot of adversity this year and they have fought through it. I am very proud of them.”
When Geena Montano scored off an assist from Julianna Picard 1:19 later, West Haven / Sacred Heart Academy was getting ready to punch its ticket to its third straight SCC finals.
“Tonight, we knew it was do or die with the SCC’s,” Blake said. “We had something to prove, especially after last year. We wanted to make it to Saturday and all we had to do was win and that’s what we did.”
Julianna Montano capped the scoring with an empty net goal with 16 seconds remaining.
Epke finished the game with 27 saves in the loss.
SCC Champs
Desrosiers and Picard lift WH/SHA past Hamden
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(February 25, 2023) - For 60 plus minutes, the Southern Connecticut Conference title game was a nail-biting affair. West Haven / Sacred Heart Academy’s Julianna Picard made sure no extra time was needed.
Flying untouched in the slot area, Picard scored the only goal of the final with 1:23 gone by in the second overtime to lift top-seeded West Haven / Sacred Heart Academy to a 1-0 victory over third-seeded Hamden co-op Saturday evening at the Edward L. Bennett Rink.
“I saw that we had the opportunity down low,” Picard said. “I saw Julianna Montano get down low. She worked her (butt) off getting there, and I just stood in front ready for the tip. That was all her.”
The SCC title was West Haven / Sacred Heart Academy’s second in three years, and it helped the Westie Sharks bounce back from an overtime loss to Guilford in last season’s SCC title game.
“I just told them to find a way,” West Haven / Sacred Heart Academy coach Erin Blake said after her team improved to 15-7. “We worked this hard to get here. We are extremely proud we made it here. It was our goal from the beginning to make it back here and win this year.”
The Westie Sharks had defeated Hamden twice already during the regular season, both times by a pair of goals. Hamden was not going to go away quietly in the third meeting.
“We played really hard all game,” Hamden coach Jessica Morgillo said after her team concluded the season with a 12-10-1 record. “We had a lot of chances, but their goalie was just really good. Both goalies played really well. It was just going to be that one bounce and they just happened to get it.”
Picard made the Westie Sharks champions with a quick snap of the wrist after taking a pass from Julianna Montano in front to beat Hamden goaltender Marcia Colten, who made 41 saves in the game.
“It feels so good, especially from last year,” Picard said. “I think with our coaching, Erin Blake and Jocey (Morrell), and our captains, we really brought our team together and we were able to finish this season.”
In a third period where each team had its share of scoring opportunities, both goaltenders were on top of their game.
Hamden’s Colten was sharp early in the period, denying Geena Montano off the left wing midway through, then turning aside Anne Plunkett with 5:43 remaining off the right wing.
West Haven / Sacred Heart Academy goaltender and Tournament Most Outstanding Player Isabelle Desrosiers was amazing down the stretch as she turned aside Jozie Becker in front with 4:30 remaining, and Jacqueline Maurice in close two minutes later. Desrosiers may have been at her best with 1:50 to go as she turned aside Mary-Jaine Malonis, then the rebound by Giada Broccoli.
“I just had to stand tall for my team,” Desrosiers said after finishing with 39 saves. “The girls were putting everything they had out there, so I knew I had to back them up. I just went in with a clear mind every period, tried my best, and really showed up here.”
The first period saw a combined 18 shots, but both goaltenders were up to the task with Desrosiers making eight saves and Colten making 10.
The Green Dragons had the better of the scoring opportunities in the opening 15 minutes, but Desrosiers denied Josephine Bourque in front 6:55 in, then turned aside Becker on the doorstep with Hamden on the power play with 12 seconds to go.
The Westie Sharks had their share of opportunities as well, but Colten denied Taylor Alfano’s point shot with less than five minutes remaining, and she also turned aside a sharp backhander by Olivia Twarowski with 3:48 to go in the opening period.
The second period was more of the same as neither team could crack the scoreboard. Picard and Rachel Harrison had the two best scoring opportunities for the Westie Sharks in the first five minutes, before Hamden carried the play.
Desrosiers again came up big in the second period with nine more saves, her best denying Sara Norton and the rebound by Broccoli with 4:30 remaining. Desrosiers then made another big save on Ava Martin with 1:08 to go to keep the game scoreless heading into the third period.“Belle (Desrosiers) played the best game I have seen a goaltender play in a long time,” Blake said. “She kept us in that game from start to finish.”
Moving On
WH/SHA tops Wilton in state tournament
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(February 27, 2023) - With only two days to recover from its dramatic overtime win over Hamden in the conference championship, the West Haven / Sacred Heart Academy girls hockey team wanted to get going quickly in the first round of the state tournament.
Scoring four of the first five goals, West Haven / Sacred Heart Academy topped Wilton 5-3 at the Edward L. Bennett Rink Monday afternoon. The win was the seventh in a row for the Westie Sharks and helped improved their record to 16-7.
Geena Montano led the way with a goal and two assists, while Isabelle Desrosiers made 28 saves in the win.
West Haven / Sacred Heart Academy took a 1-0 lead in the first period when Anne Plunkett scored off assists from Julianna Picard and Geena Montano. Chase Ireland extended the lead to 2-0 off an assist from Kiki Adamo 1:48 later, before Wilton scored 27 seconds later.
The Westie Sharks extended the lead to 4-1 with two goals in 3:03 of the second period. Juliana Gonzalez scored off an assist from Melissa Tsakonas at the 6:41 mark, before Geena Montano scored off an assist from Julianna Montano 3:03 later.
Wilton scored the next two goals, but the Westie Sharks put the game away with 2:15 left in the contest with a goal by Picard assisted by Geena Montano.
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