By David Fierro
As the season has progressed, the Greenwich High School girls ice hockey team has continued to show significant improvement with the latest example coming on Jan. 9 when it hosted a formidable, combined squad of Stamford/Westhill/Staples at Dorothy Hamill Skating Rink.
The Cardinals produced a strong effort against Stamford/Westhill/Staples, which has emerged as one of the top teams in the FCIAC and state in recent seasons, generating plenty of shots on goal, while experiencing a tight, two goal loss, with the final goal coming in the final minute.
Behind two first period goals, visiting Stamford-Westhill-Staples skated to a 3-1 victory over Greenwich, improving its record to 4-2-1 overall and 2-1 in the FCIAC.
Greenwich, which had won two consecutive games going into their matchup against FCIAC foe Stamford/Westhill/Staples, has an overall record of 4-6 and is 2-2 in the FCIAC.
“We competed really hard and what we’re seeing is a tremendous rate of improvement from three weeks ago,” Greenwich coach Doug Jebb said. “We’re passing the puck better, we’re understanding the speed of the game. I like the direction we’re going.”
Senior captain Aubrey Roth, who centers the first line, scored Greenwich’s goal. Sophomore forward Eleanor Fine and freshman defender Miren Woolven assisted on Roth’s goal, which occurred in the second period.
Visiting Stamford-Westhill-Staples, received one goal apiece from senior captain Alexandra Hackett, junior Ella Pearle and senior captain Anne Leydon.
“I thought we played a great game,” Roth said. “Overall, we played strong.”
Both teams were charged with seven penalties, so power play opportunities were plentiful for each squad. Greenwich’s goal with 6:33 remaining in the second period was the result of a power play. Roth tipped in a rebound off a shot by Fine, cutting Stamford/Westhill/Staples’ lead to 2-1.
“We were able to work together as a team,” Roth said of the Cardinals’ play, especially in the second period. “We were passing to each other and we were able to move the goalie, we were shooting low, which is a thing we practice in practice and that’s how we were able to capitalize.”
Stamford/Westhill/Staples went on a power play late in the second period, but the score remained 2-1, as freshman goalie Eleanor Woolven made several key saves, while being well supported by Greenwich’s defensive athletes.
“We tried to just play post out, so we wanted to emphasize covering back door and the post and not get drawn too far out,” said GHS senior defender/captain Lexi Carino, who along with Miren Woolven, Hailey Dreher and Carlyn Duffy helped paced the squad’s stellar defensive effort. “Slot is where most of the goals have been scored this season, so we’ve really been trying to move defensively.”
Greenwich went on a 5-on-3 power play following a pair of Stamford/Westhill/Staples penalties and threatened to tally the equalizer. Yet goalie McCaffrey Tuttle, a sophomore, helped the visitors maintain their one-goal advantage.
Both teams exhibited solid puck movement, a sound forecheck and effective defensive play throughout.
“They’re very strong, we competed really well,” Jebb said. “Just a shot here and a shot there and it would have been a tie ballgame. Their goalie played really well, made a couple of really key saves. There’s a lot of improvement and there’s a lot to hang our hat on.”
Scoring on an empty-netter with only 44.4 seconds left in the third period, SWS took a 3-1 lead. Leydon scored the game’s final goal, with Pearle receiving the assist.
Hackett gave SWS a 1-0 edge with a goal at the 6:12 mark of the opening period. Pearle and Leydon were each credited with assists on the game-opening goal.
Controlling the puck on a breakout, Pearle skated toward the goal on a 1-on-1 situation with Eleanor Woolven and snapped a shot from between the circles that found the back of the net, making it 2-0 in favor of Stamford-Westhill-Staples with 49 seconds to go in the first period.
Greenwich’s best moments came in the second and third periods, as they were able to generate shots on goal and draw several SWS penalties, resulting in power play chances.
“I think we played hard, they are a good team, but we were able to bond with each other on the ice,” Carino said. “We talked a lot, moved the puck around and were able to get a good goal off that. I think the offense did a good job of forechecking.”
Prior to playing SWS, GHS posted wins on the road against Woodstock Academy and Guilford.
The Cards beat Woodstock Academy, 4-3 and topped Guilford, 3-2.
“I think we’re definitely a better team than the first day,” Roth noted. “We’re working together more, we’re able to execute more. I think a big issue at the beginning of the season is we haven’t been able to score a lot of goals, but I think we fixed that issue and that showed in our recent victories.”
Greenwich visits West Haven on Tuesday for a 5:30 p.m. matchup.
