NSA Girls Hockey: Weekend Results

NSA Secures Semifinal Spot.

By: Kelsey Lynch

Arbour snipes one past OHA

LAKE PLACID--- The National Sports Academy (NSA) Mountaineers took a break from traveling to compete in the thirty- third annual Northwood tournament last weekend. Although they were faced with a difficult schedule, the Mountaineers were able to defeat five teams that were standing between them and the championship trophy.

With a 5:20 A.M wake up call on Friday, the girls were anything but eager to get out of bed. With the sky pitch black, the team loaded up the buses and traveled to Saranac Lake to take on their first opponent, the New Jersey Colonials.

The puck dropped at 7:30 A.M and the two teams not only battled each other but the cold as well.  The temperature outside was minus twenty Fahrenheit, and the Saranac Lake Civic Center was not much warmer. NSA senior Jaclyn Arbour commented on the rink condition, " my toes and hands were numb."

Martha Smith also added," It felt like I was in an outside rink."

Cianfarano and Whiddon celebrate after goal

Although you could see your breath after every shift, NSA was able to send a message by getting the first goal. Mountaineer forward Megan Whiddon was able to find the back of the net first with a little help from her line-mates, Taylar Cianfarano and Denisa Krizova.

The first half of the game ended with NSA leading the Colonials 2-1. As both teams headed back to their locker rooms, they were able to readjust and defrost.

NSA Coach, Kelli Vossler commented on their first half performance as “we are a much better skating team but were letting them stay in the game, the rebounds are there you can’t score goals without shooting the puck."

With the second half underway, NSA was able to recover from their mistakes in the first half by adding another point to their side of the scoreboard. Although, the Colonials responded when two goals made it past NSA's goaltender, Lenka Craigova, to tie the score at 3-3.

With a little encouragement from the parents in the stands and her teammates, NSA Sophomore Taylor Cianfarano sniped the puck past Colonial Goalie in order to secure the Mountaineer's first victory.

Later on that day, the team made their way down the street to the Olympic Center to face their next opponent, RNS. NSA faced RNS just last month at the Deerfield Tournament and beat them 10-1. 

Although they knew the game wasn’t going to be very competitive NSA made sure not to underestimate their opponent. With Craigova between the pipes, the puck dropped at 4:30 P.M.

With a minute and forty two seconds into the game, Cianfarano was the first to get past RNS goaltender. With NSA’s thirty shots on net in the first half, eight found their way to the back of the net. 

Going into the second half, Craigova didn’t see a single shot from RNS. The puck rarely made its way into NSA’s defensive zone allowing the team “to move the puck and work on things.”

The game ended with NSA coming out on top leaving the score, 13-0. Three Mountaineer forwards were able to find the net more than once. Arbour got a hat trick while Cianfarano and Krizova both got four goals each.

In order to secure a spot in the Semifinal round, the Mountaineers remained focused as they took on their next opponent, Ontario Hockey Academy. Once again, the team had to load up the bus and make their way to Saranac Lake.

The puck dropped at 11:05 with NSA goaltender Sarah Foss in net.  OHA came out flying and was able to push the puck pass Foss for the one nothing lead. Shortly after, OHA got two penalties giving NSA two odd man advantages.

The Mountaineers capitalized on their power play scoring two goals to take the lead over OHA. Followed by another goal by NSA forward, Jackie Arbour, to make the score 3-1.

Although the Mountaineers were ahead by two there was still a lot of play left. OHA responded by getting two goals to tie the score. Then with fifteen seconds Cianfarano found space in the slot and let one go that went right pass OHA’s goaltender.

With one more half to play, before securing a place in the Semifinals, NSA had to play strong defense in order to keep their lead. NSA forward Elizabeth Scala secured NSA’s spot finalizing the score at 5-3.

NSA was focused and determined as they moved on to the Semifinals to take on the very skilled NAHA.