The girls JV hockey team defeated Andover in one of the most exciting games of the season on a gray Wednesday afternoon at the home rink of Andover. The Big Blue of Andover came out with fire and a tenacity the girls have not seen much of this season. However every girl on the Big Red squad rose to the occasion and met Andover's intensity head on and claimed victory in an exciting and action-packed game. Andover got on the board first after an ill-timed shift change allowed an Andover forward to get in alone and put one past
Parker Neilson midway through the first period. The Pelicans responded well as they dug in and worked to pressure the Andover goaltender who made multiple quality saves throughout the game.
Chandler Curtis would tie the game on a nice rush and finish late in the first period. The teams went into the first intermission tied at 1-1. The second period saw plenty of spirited play but no scoring by either team. Char Ward,
Scarlet Tien and Finlay Goring all played great as forwards disrupting the Andover offense and creating scoring chances with hustle and heart. Defensively, Kay Sumilas,
Thayer Demers, Nel Peter and
Lily Chibnik held tough on a surging and fast skating group of Andover forwards.
Marina Kane and
Gracen Arndt played a tough and physical style of hockey all day to create opportunities and deny Andover another goal. In the third period, the Big Red got the scoring going again as
Emerson Bentley, who was all over the ice as she forechecked hard and backchecked even harder, scored a beautiful goal off a rebound from a Callie Fortin shot. A few minutes later, Ali Cabot put the game on ice with a blast from the point that deflected off an Andover player and helped the Big Red go up 3-1.
Saylor Pachios would add the final nail to the coffin as she one-timed a Kitty Diamond cross-crease pass late in the game to make it 4-1. Parker Nelson was again outstanding in goal turning away every shot in the final two frames. The squad look to meet its early season goal of getting a little better every day as they travel to Phillips Exeter on Saturday for a 2:00 pm start.
