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03/26/2014 12:00 AMMarch is usually a time of warmer temperatures, but for Edy Moritz, it was a month in which she proved a stone-cold wall for Guilford girls' ice hockey.
The junior netminder compiled an impressive regular season with 12-6 Guilford in which the most goals given up by the Indians in a single game was four, which only happened once. Then in the playoffs, Edy came up even bigger by allowing only three scores in two State Tournament contests, including a 50-plus-save showing versus top-seeded Darien in the semifinals, to help the Indians earn a bid to the championship game.
"We had a lot of success this season and I had a lot of fun playing with these girls," says Edy, who finished the campaign with a .940 save percentage. "The biggest thing for me was just to get in the zone. For the Darien game [a 2-1 overtime victory], in warm-ups when we stepped onto the ice, it looked like all of us were in the zone when we were getting ready. That night, I just covered the puck as much as I could and it paid off."
Edy quotes the advice of hockey legend Wayne Gretzky when it comes to stopping pucks and feels that you have to use foresight in such a fast-paced sport.
"The big thing is just being aware out there. Gretzky used to say, 'go where the puck is going to be,'" Edy says. "You have to anticipate the puck and, even with offense, you have to know where they are going to shoot it."
Head Coach Gil Schaper says that Edy brings so much to the table with her abilities as a keeper and leader. Schaper adds that she can also become a utility player when called upon.
"Edy has great skill and is also great with setting examples in the game. She is always on point for us," says Schaper, whose team also made the SCC Division I Tournament. "She makes a statement and having a goalkeeper like her in hockey is very important and adds confidence to the team. She can also play as forward or defenseman very well, too."
Edy wasn't taken away from the crease in this year's lineup, though. She recalls there were times in her tenure when she was put into the starting five, but like a true goalie, she had ice water in her veins.
"I've played hockey since I was five and originally skated out, but my freshman year here, I skated out half the season and a couple of games my sophomore season," says Edy, who wrapped up her fifth campaign as a stopper. "I didn't get nervous, yet I made sure to leave everything I had out there and have fun. You can't put pressure on yourself because having nerves throws off your mentality."
After a memorable postseason for Edy and the Indians, her mindset is on her senior slate and capping off her career with the best parting gift any athlete could ask for-a state crown.
"This season was great. We had two seniors and a lot of big contributions from freshmen this year and we always kept it loose so we had fun" says Edy, who thanks parents, Christine and Carl, along with all of her coaches throughout her life. "This year meant a lot to me and I have one more year. We will have another decent year next season. We have more freshmen coming up and I believe we will do very well next year."