This is the second year Sacred Heart Academy has had an ice hockey team, and just keeps getting better and better! The team ended with an astounding record of 17-2-2. The team is a co-op with West Haven High School, and although the girls come from two very different schools, they have meshed very well together. WHSHA was headed by Captain Gabriella Prisco (WH) and assistant captains Sydney Marcarelli (SHA) and Emily Fowler (SHA). Erin Blake is the head coach with Jocey Morrell at her side as assistant coach. Blake has been named Division II Girl’s Ice Hockey Coach of the Year for the second year in a row. Both are amazing coaches who work well with the girls while pushing them to reach their full potential.
There were nine SHA girls who played on the team this year. Tatum Courtmanche and Brooke McNabola were the newest recruits who both were great assets to the team, with Tatum as goalie and Brooke as defender. Then there are four returning sophomores: Francesca Criscuolo, Kyleen Crowe, Zoe DeFalco, and Grace Plunkett, who are all powerhouses and make significant contributions to the team. Finally there were three seniors: Emily Fowler, Sydney Marcarelli, and Olivia Ross who played their hearts out and acted as leaders and role models to younger members of the team. Marcarelli shares, “We won an SCC championship, made states, had an undefeated record in our division and beat teams we never thought we could” and continues to gush, “it was a great experience to be part of a team that’s more like a family and I couldn’t be any prouder.” All the girls had such an amazing experience on the team, and made their school proud.
At the beginning of the season the team set two goals for themselves: to win SCCs and the make it to the state tournament. The girls pushed themselves all season and accomplished both of those goals! They defeated one of their biggest rival teams, Amity, in the SCC finals with a score of 4-1. They also ended their season being the number three team in the state and having the best record in the state. Gabriella Prisco and Veronica Lynn of West Haven were both selected as part of the SCC All-Conference team. The team has many more accomplishments and extremely talented players, but more importantly they have a special team bond. With co-op teams there is always the chance the two schools will stay divided, but that is not the case with WHSHA. This season the girls left behind their identity as a SHA girl or a West Haven girl, and became part of one family. We are so proud of our team and can’t wait to see what they will do next year!