Girls Hockey ties Grand Rapids, defeats Pioneer JV, loses to Skyron

Manchester’s Linzy Costella in Washtenaw’s game against Skyron last Thursday. Photo courtesy of Jaime Crawford.

submitted by Washtenaw United Girls HS Ice Hockey

The Washtenaw United Girls HS Ice Hockey team travelled to Grand Rapids last Sunday for a rematch against the Grand Rapids Griffins 19U team. It was a sunny day for travel, but the team struggled for several periods trying to ensure a happy drive home.

Grand Rapids recognized their seniors before the game Sunday afternoon. And then the work of trying to score started for both teams. Washtenaw, missing Riley Malloy (Saline ‘24), juggled their lines and saw excellent defensive play from forwards Linzy Costella (Manchester ‘21), defenseman Rylee Kennedy (Milan ‘24) and Cecilia Henrickson (Chelsea ‘24). Midway through the period GRAHA took advantage of a gap in coverage and got a breakaway shot on goal but Washtenaw’s goaltender, Julia Scarcello (Saline ‘22) deftly smothered the shot. The teams continued their hard work with GRAHA creating a wall in front of their goaltender and Washtenaw struggling to get free from heavy, physical play. The shots on goal at the end of the first were GRAHA 8, Washtenaw 3.

The second period continued the struggle, though offensive work by Raegan Kopitsch (Dexter ‘24), Costella, Makenna Lupi (Saline ‘22) and Jillian Eggleston (Dexter ‘22) gave Washtenaw some hope. Saline’s Sydney Clark (Saline ‘24) had several shifts where her forechecking on GRAHA, followed by her tenacious backchecking successfully disrupted any of their offensive chances. Midway through the period, despite heavy back and forth play, Washtenaw received the game’s first penalty. Despite a nice shorthanded breakaway rush by Henrickson, GRAHA gathered the puck and scored the game’s first goal — burying the puck behind Scarcello at 6:55 of the period. A possible tying goal on a breakaway by Washtenaw was thwarted when GRAHA tripped Costella as she drove to the net. No penalty for the play was assessed, much to the frustration of Washtenaw’s coaches and fans. The period ended with GRAHA achieving 8 shots on goal to Washtenaw’s 6.

The third period started with several offensive chances for Washtenaw’s Henrickson, Clark and Saline’s Reese Caryl (Saline ‘22) and Kathryn Winters (Saline ‘23). GRAHA took a penalty for hooking at 10:15 of the period but Washtenaw was unable to take advantage of the extra player. With 1:38 remaining, a faceoff in GRAHA’s zone gave Washtenaw’s coach Adam Winters the opportunity to pull Scarcello from goal and add an extra Washtenaw player for a last offensive push. The team responded with Kopitsch scoring the goal for Washtenaw that tied the game. GRAHA kept the pressure on getting a shot on goal with less than :14 seconds remaining but Scarcello stayed strong. Scarcello made 19 saves in the tie; GRAHA had 20.

This game was followed by a game last Wednesday against Pioneer’s JV team at Veteran’s Memorial Park. That resulted in a 7-0 win over Pioneer JV, with Lexi Lyon scoring her first career goal.

In mid-February Washtenaw United Girls’ HS Ice Hockey team shocked Skyron’s (Skyline/Huron) squad by beating them 5-4. On Thursday, March 11th, in a rematch that followed Skyron’s Senior Night on Washtenaw’s hosted ice, the game played out very differently. Washtenaw, despite going into the game confidently, was unable to get the puck to bounce their way, including having a goal waved off in the 2nd period.

The game started well with Washtenaw’s Jillian Eggleston (Dexter ’22) taking the first shot on Skyron’s goalie, Jillian Cook. But the tide turned quickly to Skyron’s favor as Salsabeel Hodge scored on an unassisted goal at 12:50. Play continued to be strong in both ends of the ice with shots on Cook by Eggleston, Sydney Clark (Saline ’25) and Ceclia Henricksen (Chelsea ’24). A strong defensive move by Skyron thwarted Washtenaw’s Linzy Costella (Manchester ’21) on one of her few breakaways of the night. In Washtenaw’s defensive zone goalie Julia Scarcella (Saline ’22) made 15 saves in the first period including two on breakaways and a last minute bouncer at the :30 second mark.

Skyron opened the second period with a goal by Ava Heung, with assists from Keelyn Schumann and Abby Cullen. At 10:32 Washtenaw pulled a puck out of the scrum in front of Skyron’s Cook and appeared to put it in the open net over her right shoulder. The officials, however, said that Cook had the puck covered, or that they’d lost sight of the puck and so had blown their whistle prior to the goal. Disappointed, Washtenaw defense Rylee Kennedy (Milan ’24), Julia Berkholz (Dexter ’24), Riley Malloy (Saline ’24) and Eggleston went to work to deny any more goals despite Skyron getting an additional 10 shots on Scarcella.

Washtenaw was able to get sustained pressure in Skyron’s end in the 3rd period as forwards Chloe Dillen (Saline ’24), Raegan Kopitsch (Dexter ’24), Makeena Lupi (Saline ’22), Reese Caryl (Saline ’22) and Kathryn WInters (Saline ’23) kept the movement in Skyron’s end but were unable to put the puck behind Cook in the Skyron net. With only 50 seconds remaining in the game a rebound from a Washtenaw shot on Cook sent Skyron’s Meg Vandermark on a breakaway as Scarcella was changing for the extra player. Despite Scarcella’s heroic dive, Vandermark was able to put the puck in the net to give Skyron the 3-0 win. Cook made 8 saves in the game. Scarcello logged 36 saves for the night.

Next up for Washtenaw is their Senior Night on Saturday (3/13) night when they host Livonia United at 5:30 pm. On Monday, March 15th at 5:30 pm, Washtenaw hosts University Liggett. Liggett is currently the top team in the Michigan Girls HS Hockey League with an 8-0-0 record. Both games are at the Ann Arbor Ice Cube which allows limited spectators.

Washtenaw United is a High School Girls’ Hockey Team skating out of the Ann Arbor Ice Cube. The team serves High Schools within Washtenaw County that do not have a dedicated team to play for. Currently, Pioneer and the combined Skyline-Huron have dedicated teams. Washtenaw United is made up of players from Saline, Dexter, Chelsea, Manchester, and Milan. The team is in its first year of play, and is an affiliate member of the Michigan Girls High School Hockey League (MGHSHL) with plans of full membership into the league for the 2021-22 season.

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by Sara Swanson

Sara Swanson is an editor, writer and founder of the Manchester Mirror.