The Greenwich High School girls ice hockey team honored and celebrated their nine seniors before last week’s game against New Canaan High at Dorothy Hamill Ice Rink.
As fierce as the Lady Cardinals are on the ice, they are just as close as teammates and friends that make up one of the largest and most special groups of seniors the program has seen.
“It’s definitely a special class,” said GHS second-year head coach Alex Lerchan. “Each senior brings something different to the table. They’re great kids and they work hard. I couldn’t ask for anything more out of them. It’s a great group of kids and they work hard for each other.”
Led by a trio of captains in Lisa Lewis, Haley Raftery and Claire Eschircht, the group got a chance to reminisce about their careers and their senior season following the game.
“It’s an awesome experience getting to play all four years with these girls and I get to see everyone develop around me as we grow together,” said the senior Lewis. “I wouldn’t be the same skater or even the same person I am today without the girls around me. It’s really awesome to come together and to have a day that celebrates and is dedicated to that.”
During her four-year career, Lewis played both goalie and defense as she twice broke the school record for saves in a game with 56 out of 59 shots saved on January 17, 2015 and then eventually saving 58 out of 64 shots on goal a month later in her junior season.
“We knew it was going to be a good year since the first time we stepped on the ice this season,” Lewis joked. “When Claire hit a really good bar down shot in our first practice, we both turned to each other and celebrated and said it was going to be a good season.”
As the senior defenders for Greenwich, Lewis and Eschricht share a close bond on the blue line that goes back to their freshman years.
After giving up two early goals, Greenwich held New Canaan scoreless in the remaining 40 minutes of play, but eventually lost 2-0 to the Rams.
“On and off the ice, we’re a team,” said GHS senior Raftery. “We work for each other and have fun with each other.”
“It’s been hard, but It’s been rewarding,” said GHS senior Eschricht. “We’ve come so far from our first game and it’s cool to see yourself and those around you improve. The three of us have been playing since freshman year and this is the first season I’ve really seen everybody work together and the first season we started to see crowds here.”
Seniors included assistant captain Brooke Rullman, Leticia De Souza, Lockesley Freccia, Erika Hvolbeck, Monique Pera, and Austin Stratton.
The loss knocked Greenwich out of contention for the four-team FCIAC conference playoff, but the Lady Cardinals still have an opportunity to finish off their season on a high note.
Greenwich(6-7, 8-9) will visit Farmington on Friday before hosting Ludlowe next Monday at 4:45 p.m. at Dorothy Hamill Ice Rink in their regular season finale.
