Recap: Girls Hockey

NSA Becomes Two Time Champion

By: Emily Laurenzi

This past weekend NSA girl’s hockey team won the Northwood Invitational Tournament for the second time in NSA History.

In order to advance to the semi-final round of the tournament NSA had to win all three of its first three games. The girls started off with a 5-3 win against the New Jersey Colonials, and continued with a 13-0 win against Rothesay-Netherwood School and finished with a  5-3 win against Ontario Hockey Academy.

The semi-final game was against North American Hockey Academy’s top team. Having faced NAHA four times prior to this game, NSA knew what was to be expected. They knew it wouldn’t be easy, but they knew it was possible.

T.t. Cianfarano and Rachel Weich celebrate after a goal

As the puck dropped NSA was all over NAHA, completely dominating the game.  About half way into the first half NSA got a break, Denisa Krisova and T.T. Cianfarano flew down the ice on a two on one. Krizova fired a shot from the top of the circle missing the net, but with a lucky bounce it ended up in front where Cianfarano finds the back of the net. The half ended 1-0 and NSA out shooting NAHA 19-2.

The start of the second half begins with fast ice. NSA knows a one-goal lead is not going to win them the game. NSA catches another break after Denisa Krisova hits Emily Laurenzi with a pass at center ice creating a two on one with Megan Whiddon. Laurenzi takes a shot to the far side that hits the post and then the back of the net.

NSA leads 2-0 with twenty minutes remaining when NAHA player Shannon Yoxheimer takes a shot from the blue line that was redirected into the net.  The next shift NSA began panicking in their defensive zone and NAHA took advantage of the breakdown and tied the game 2-2. The half remained tied and the game went to overtime.

NSA Champions

The overtime was to be played five on five for five minutes and each remaining overtime was four on four for five minutes. The ice was choppy and the NSA girls knew it was going to be a battle. The first overtime flew by, along with the second one. The third overtime began and there had been a scramble in front of the net, all of a sudden the ref points his arm to the net and NSA’s bench clears and the celebration begins.

NSA is to move on to the Championship game against NAHA’s second team. "The game was a lot slower and less intense then the previous game." said Carina Randazzo. With NSA’s speed and skill the outcome of the game should have been a blow out but instead it was only 2-0. T.t. Cianfarano and Jackie Arbour scored the only goals in the game, and it was a great overall effort for the NSA girls team.