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12/17/2017 11:00 PMGirls’ Ice Hockey
The Amity-North Haven-Cheshire girls’ ice hockey team opened up its winter campaign by winning three games in as many days at The Rinks at Shelton last week. The Blades claimed a 3-2 victory against non-conference opponent New Canaan on Dec. 15, posted a 6-0 win versus Lauralton Hall in a SCC game the following day, and then skated to an 8-0 shutout versus conference foe Masuk-Barlow-Newtown-Oxford on Dec. 17.
“It’s a nice start to the season,” Head Coach John Peschell said. “Beating New Canaan on [Dec. 15] was special, because they are just a great program and one of the state’s top teams...It’s good to see this team has character, desire, and a tremendous competitive spirit.”
The Blades trailed New Canaan 2-0 after the first period, but rallied to defeat the Rams in overtime. In the second period, Callie Dixon scored on assists from Tess Csejka and North Haven sophomore Melissa Montesi to make it 2-1 through two. The Blades tied the game when Haley Cable scored on helpers by Megan Spring and North Haven junior Shannon Reilly with 6:21 remaining in regulation. With 1:44 to play in OT, Csjeka scored on Dixon’s assist to give the Blades the 3-2 win. North Haven student Julianna Daddio made 27 saves in net in the victory.
Against Lauralton Hall, the Blades scored three goals in the first period on their way to a 6-0 victory. Reilly assisted Csjeka for the first goal of the game, after which Dixon assisted a goal by Cecile Tobin for a 2-0 lead. Right after that, Montesi got on the board when she scored on a Megan Hogan assist to make it 3-0. Hogan and Dixon both scored unassisted goals in the second period for the Blades. Then in the third period, Hogan had the assist on Caroline Cadelina’s goal that gave the Blades a 6-0 advantage. The Blades outshot Lauralton Hall 43-7 with Daddio stopping all seven shots to get the shutout.
Peschell is back for his second year as head coach of the Blades, who are coming off a season where they went 14-7-2 and advanced to the final of the SCC Division II Tournament for the second straight year, losing to West Haven-Sacred Heart Academy. This year, the SCC is split into North and South divisions, and Peschell’s club is in the South Division with Hamden, West Haven-Sacred Heart Academy, Branford-East Haven-North Branford, Hand-Coginchaug-Old Lyme, Guilford, Notre Dame-Fairfield/Law/Weston, Masuk-Barlow-Newtown-Oxford, and Lauralton Hall.
Boys’ Ice Hockey
The Indians’ boys’ ice hockey squad began a new chapter last week as program alum Nick Costanzo was behind the bench for his first game as the team’s head coach. North Haven kicked off the Costanzo era in triumphant fashion by posting a 4-3 overtime victory versus SCC/SWC Division III opponent Lyman Hall/Haddam-Killingworth/Coginchaug at Northford Ice Pavilion on Dec. 16.
North Haven held a 3-2 lead after the first period against the Trojans. Following a scoreless second, the Trojans capitalized on a 5-on-3 advantage by netting the equalizer on the power play in the third period. About halfway through the overtime period, junior Dom Biondi scored the game-winning goal for the Indians. Andrew Carmody scored the first goal off an assist from freshman Eli Brubacher, Alan Tancreti scored the next goal unassisted, CJ Kenny scored off an assist from Jack Marottolo, and Biondi scored the overtime winner from Marottolo and Kenny. Senior Jeremy Hickcox made 12 saves on 15 shots for the Indians, whose senior captains are Kenny, Jamie Montesi, and Sam Pethick.
“The kids played hard, and they overcame some adversity, which was great to see in the first game,” said Kyle Heins, who joined North Haven as an associate coach this year. “We battled and had some big plays, especially the overtime winner by Dom Biondi. We are excited for the rest of the season and plan on getting better each day.”
North Haven is a member of SCC/SWC Division II, along with Amity, Branford, Cheshire, East Haven-Old Lyme-Old Saybrook-East Hampton, Guilford, Milford, New Milford, Newtown, North Branford, and Watertown-Pomperaug.
Girls’ Basketball
The North Haven girls’ basketball team tipped off its winter season by playing a game at Branford last week. The Indians took a 48-36 defeat against the Hornets on Dec. 16.
Head Coach Ray Degnan said the Indians have a “surge of young talent in the program,” although the Indians’ inexperience showed in the Branford game as they struggled with turning the ball over in the first half and trailed 32-18 at halftime. North Haven played cleaner on offense and also played some solid defense to outscore Branford in the latter half, but the Indians couldn’t make up the deficit, and wound up taking the defeat.
Sophomore guard Laura Petrafesa scored 11 points, senior captain Kylie Brandt had nine points, and sophomore forward Zoi Burns added eight points with nine rebounds for North Haven. Brandt captains the team with senior Claire Fresher and junior Leah Zeisner.
“We played hard, because we always play hard. No one ever doubts our effort,” said Coach Degnan. “That being said, we have reached a point in our program where being proud of our effort is not acceptable. These kids are talented and they are hungry...The second half was a good start. Better things are ahead.”
North Haven is in its fourth season with Degnan as head coach this year. The Indians will once again by competing in the SCC Oronoque Division with Hand, Hillhouse, Lyman Hall, and Law.