Middlebury stops Harwood Girls Hockey, 2-1, in quarterfinal round
March 20, 2021 | By Waterbury Roundabout This story was updated March 27.
Third-seeded Harwood Union Girls Hockey hosted sixth-seed Middlebury for the quarterfinal round of the Division II State Championship where Middlebury took advantage of the Highlanders’ slow start that ultimately sent the Tigers on to the semifinal, winning 2-1. Middlebury went on to eliminate second-seeded Hartford in the semi round and by Wednesday, March 24, Middlebury clinched the D-II title, defeating No. 4 South Burlington, 2-1.
Here’s a recap from the Highlanders’ final competitions of the shortened, distanced season, filed by Assistant Coach Katie Martin.
March 16
Middlebury 2, Harwood 1
In the first period, Middlebury got on the board with a nice tap in the net from Mckenna Raymond, assisted by Hana Doria and Channing Brush. The Highlanders had a hard time breaking the puck out of their zone effectively as the Middlebury defense held the blue line and sent the puck back in Harwood’s defensive zone.
Harwood also had two penalties called against senior Clara Griffin, one for tripping and another for hooking. The score held at 1-0 Middlebury into the second period when both teams scored. Harwood was first with a goal by senior Captain Hailey Brickey, assisted by Maeven Cattanach. After the pass from Cattanach, Brickey worked the entire offensive zone, firing off two shots and picking up her own rebound, persevering and finally getting the puck in the net for the first and only Highlander goal in the game and the last for the season.
Middlebury, winning races to the puck and skating hard for breakaway opportunities, scored minutes later – goal by Ella Tucker, assisted by Brush and Raymond. The score stayed set for the remainder of the game. Neither team scored in the third.
Middlebury had two prime breakaway chances, getting past Harwood’s defense, but Hunter was able to snuff both attempts, holding the tight score. Both Harwood and Middlebury called timeouts with less than three minutes to go in the third, trying to regroup. Middlebury was called for roughing with just over two minutes to go, giving Harwood a last-chance powerplay.
But Harwood was unable to capitalize in their offensive zone before the clock ran out, ending the Highlanders season on a 2-1 loss. Harwood goalkeeper Jordan Hunter had 24 saves on the game; Middlebury’s Abby Hodsen had 25.
March 10
Harwood 1, Spaulding 3
The Harwood girls traveled to the B.O.R. in Barre on Wednesday, March 10, to play Spaulding on the Crimson Tides’ senior night. Earlier in the season, Spaulding beat the Highlanders 4-0, and the Tide prevailed against the Highlanders once again in the last regular season game.
Spaulding set the tone early, scoring two unanswered goals in the first period. Spaulding’s Hannah King scored both her team’s goals, the first unassisted. Minutes later, she found the back of the Highlanders’ net off a pass from Corrina Moulton. The score stood at 2-0 through the first and second periods.
In the third period, Harwood got on the board with an unassisted goal from Louisa Thomsen who was able to pull the Spaulding goalie to one side before shooting the puck in on the opposite side, a maneuver she tried in the second period, but was stopped by goaltender Mattie Cetin.
With a shot of energy from the goal, the Highlanders tried to come back and tie the game, but were unable to stop Emily Morris from the Tide to score the final goal with an assist from Bria Dill. Final score: 3-1.
The team commenced playoffs at the quarter final round, by-passing playdowns as they finished in the third-seeded position. Their first match was against sixth-seed Middlebury on March 16, an opponent they beat earlier in the season 4-3 at home.
March 6
Harwood 10, Brattleboro 1
Harwood’s away game against Brattleboro on Saturday, March 6, turned out to be a runaway 10-1 game for the Highlanders that also featured some fresh faces on the ice.
By the end of the first, Highlanders led 2-0, benefitting from the team’s first line of Thomsen, Fernandez and Griffin. The trio proved unstoppable when they communicate, pass, and cycle the puck together. The first Harwood goal came from Lousia Thomsen, assisted by Clara Griffin and Rachel Fernandez. The second was by Griffin, assisted by Thomsen and Fernandez.
Harwood was able to play their third and fourth line in the second period, giving girls who haven’t seen a lot of ice time this year a chance to get out and compete. Harwood claimed a substantial lead in this period, scoring four more goals: the first from Griffin, assisted by linemates Thomsen and Fernandez; the next from captain Hailey Brickey, assisted by Thomsen; another by Griffin, assisted by Thomsen. The final goal of the period came from Brickey on the point, unassisted. Headed into the third, the score: 6-0.
Harwood head coach Mike Vasseur switched out goaltenders in the third period, replacing freshman Jordan Hunter with senior Kaylee Cameron.The Highlander bench came alive when first-year player Maggie Aiken scored her first varsity goal, assisted by senior captain Moly Yacavoni.
Thomsen scored unassisted again. She was followed by freshman Kate Wilkesmen who also scored her first varsity goal, assisted by Brickey. Harwood’s final goal was from an unassisted shot from Griffin at the point. Brattleboro managed a lone goal with just over two minutes left, denying Harwood a shutout.
March 3
Harwood 7, South Burlington 5
On Wednesday, March 3, Harwood Girls Hockey hosted South Burlington at the Ice Center for the Highlanders’ senior night, a game that resulted in another exciting comeback victory on the season.
Highlander seniorplayerss. Photo by Katie Martin
Before the game, senior athletes and their families were able to do a safe, socially distanced senior ceremony outside of the rink. Parents were presented with flowers and had their photos taken with their student-athletes. Earlier in the day, underclassmen from the team decorated the ice rink in celebration. Due to the no-spectator rule this season, attendance inside the rink for games is limited. Some of the senior parents were able to watch the game as they were given positions of penalty box officials, goal judges, and scorekeepers. Others watched the game from several livestreams online.
In the first period, both teams came out ready to play, each scoring a few goals. Harwood’s Lousia Thomsen scored unassisted, followed by senior linemate Clara Griffin, who was assisted by senior Captain Hailey Brickey. South Burlington scored the majority of their goals in the first, starting with Catie Collins, assisted Jordan Larose; the second goal unassisted by Sabrina Brunet, a goal by Larose, and the final goal for the period by Sofia Richland, assisted by Brunet.
Headed into the second period down 4-2, the Highlanders regrouped and strategized, switching up some of the positioning including a quick goalie switch, replacing senior Kaylee Cameron with freshman Jordan Hunter. The Highlanders were able to make up the difference in the second period, starting when Rachel Fernandez scored off a pass from Hailey Brickey and Clara Griffin.
Brickey herself would score, assisted by Fernandez and Thomsen. With the score tied 4-4, both Harwood and South Burlington scored again before the end of the period. South Burlington got on the board first with an unassisted goal by Catie Collins. Harwood’s Fernandez, having one of the best periods she's played this season, netted her second of the game, assisted by Griffin.
The third started at 5-5 and it was Thomsen who got the go-ahead goal, scoring unassisted. Minutes later, Griffin found the back of the net, assisted by linemates Thomsen and Fernandez on what was the final goal of the game, ending at 7-5.
Katie Martin also serves as a member of the Waterbury Select Board.
Senior Night doesn’t disappoint with a 7-5 victory over South Burlington. Photo by Katie Martin.