Leadership Keys Another Victory/Varsity Girls Hockey Defeats Millbrook

Senior Jess Sarrantonio wasn't feeling too well when she woke up on Friday morning, but she knew she had to get up the energy to come to school. Jess, you see, is the only goalie on the Varsity Girls Ice Hockey team and there was a big game scheduled for Friday night. She is also one of only two players to have played in every game in the history of girls ice hockey at Portledge, so there was no way Jess was going to miss her last trip to the famed Bonticou Rink at Millbrook School. It's funny the way things in sports happen sometimes because as it turns out, it was Jess' play that night that keyed the victory for the Portledge girls over yet another quality New England prep school team. Even more important than Jess' fine play though, was the sense of commitment and leadership she displayed for the younger girls. Not once all night did Jess say anything about not feeling well to anybody but the coaches. She just put on her pads, got between the pipes and turned away one Mustang shot after another. Her devotion, as well as that of the other veteran players, to girls ice hockey at Portledge is really something to be commended and admired. Thus, when you see the younger players compete with so much energy and poise, it is not difficult to discern from where it comes. You need not look any further than the team's netminder and her other veteran comrades.

What Happened in This Exciting Game?

The Portledge VGIH team knew it would be a difficult test. Not only is the Millbrook Varsity
team a quality squad, but Portledge would be playing without one of its top defensemen, Sophomore Emily Prey, who was out of the line up with an injured shoulder. There was some trepidation by the ten Lady Panther skaters who took the ice when the Millbrook team came roaring out of the locker room twenty five strong. Once the puck dropped, however, it was apparent that the Portledge girls were very much focused on victory. There just was an unmistakable determination to their play that couldn't be matched by the deeper, and some would say more talented, Millbrook team. So, when Freshman Ashley Wade stole the pick while Portledge was down a player in the box, and calmy flicked it into the Millbrook goal, there wasn't anyone on the bench that was surprised. In fact, the girls hardly celebrated because they knew there was much hard work to be done. It was a fast paced game that one of the referee's characterized as, "excellent hockey with crisp passing".Up and down the teams went, trading one strong scoring chance for another, when half way through the first period Junior Siena Falino spotted Freshman Alyssa Parke flying out of the zone early and sent a long clearing pass in the rough and tumble wing's direction. Parke chased the puck down and rifled a shot from a tough angle through the pads of the Millbrook. The goal capped an excellent period of play as the Portledge girls retired to the dressing room with a 2-0 lead.

Millbrook got one back early in the second before an extensive forecheck and cycle play resulted in another Panther goal. Falino and Sophomore Addie Reilly worked the puck back and forth to each other in the corner with Reilly eventually finding Falino with a crisp pass as she rolled to the goal. The Junior sniper made no mistake as she buried a wrister in the top corner to restore a two goal lead for the Portledge team. Millbrook scored again early in the third period, but then Sarrantonio shut the door, turning away one Mustang chance after another as the clock wound down. Falino added an insurance goal in the final minutes, and the Lady Panthers enjoyed the last few minutes of play with a sense of satisfaction and accomplishment.

That's four in a row for this close knit team with a big tilt V. Lawrenceville scheduled for this Wednesday. The game is AWAY @Lawrenceville and the puck will drop at 5:30.