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Team Members:
Phoebe Amberg, Lauren Black, Shannon Breen, Katie Going, Kelsey Hopkins,
Ingrid Klockars, Deanne Loster, Erin May, Ryann McCarthy, Jackie
McTigue, Kerry Mullins, Katie Osikowicz, Nicole Sassorossi, Carrie Sell, Cassandra
Stoner, Carolyn Thiess
Head Coach: Terry LaBella
Assistant Coach: Phil Duran
Managers: Steve Amberg and Jan Osikowicz
U16 Play for State Championship
Team Illinois' 16U entered the State Round Robin Playoffs on February 28th
with high hopes of getting enough points to earn a spot in the State Championship
game on March 6th. Their first game pitted the girls against the Chill Girls that had
beaten TI in both games the teams played earlier in the year. TI showed they were
ready to play from the start, as much of the play was in the Chill zone in the first
period. With just under 4 minutes left in the first period, Rachel Tuszynski muscled
the puck from the Chill and drove to the net for an unassisted score. Early in the
second period, Cassie Stoner took a shot that was saved, but TI's Katie Osikowicz
slammed in the rebound to give TI at 2-0 lead. The Chill came back strongly and
scored two goals to tie the game before the second period was over. TI's
girls again came out strong in the third period and a shot from the blue
line by Tuszynski went passed a screened Chill goalie for her second goal of
the game giving TI a 3-2 lead. A bit more than two minutes later the pressure continued as
Kerry Mullins and Phoebe Amberg assisted Ingrid Klockars for a goal giving TI a
4-2 lead. TI's defense played strong the entire period, holding Chill to just 2 shots
and when Kelsey Hopkins scored an empty net goal with a minute and a half to go,
TI knew they had the important win.
Next up later in the day was a rematch with CYA, who had beaten TI in all
four earlier meetings, though they had not played since early December. The
TI girls put forth one of their best efforts of the season. With Katie
Goeing stopping all 14 shots she faced in the first period, the game was
scoreless going into the second period. Goeing again was strong, holding
off CYA for most of the period until CYA knocked home a rebound with just
over 3 minutes left in the second period. TI started to put some pressure
on CYA in the third period in a strong effort to tie the game, but could not
dent the goal. CYA won the game 1-0, but it was a great effort by TI and
Katie Goeing, who stopped 34 of 35 shots.
That left Sunday morning's game against the Chiefs as the critical game to
see if TI would make the State Championship game. They needed a win or at
worst a tie would probably get them in, though that would depend on the
result of the CYA-Chill game. The Chiefs showed early on that they would
not lay down for TI. With less than a couple of minutes gone, the Chiefs
scored on their first shot for a 1-0 lead. TI got their offense going but
the Chiefs goalie stood firm as the period ended with Chiefs leading 1-0.
TI started applying the pressure in the second period and tied the game on
their first shot of the period as Lauren Black scored on a feed from Katie
Osikowicz. TI continued to pressure with 13 more shots in the period but
could not get another one in. The game moved into the 3rd period tied
1-1. Ryann McCarthy held firm in goal for TI, but so did the Chiefs and the game
ended in a 1-1 tie. That meant that TI had to hope that CYA would beat or
tie the Chill for TI to make the Championship Game. CYA beat the Chill so
all was set for a rematch between TI and CYA for State.
On March 6th, 8:00 am at the Edge was the scene for the State Championship
game and the game proved very similar to the previous CYA-TI game the week
before. TI had the edge in play early on and kept the puck in the CYA zone
for a majority of the period. TI goalie, Ryann McCarthy, stopped everything she saw in
the first period as the period ended scoreless. CYA got the first goal of the game
early in the second period, but TI came back to tie the game as Rachel Tuszynski
scored. The game remained tied as McCarthy kept CYA off the board into the third
period. The action was tense s play moved up and down the ice with both goalies
staying strong. About half way through the period, CYA took advantage of an odd
man break and scored on a rebound to make it 2-1. A couple of minutes later, CYA
scored a power play goal to make it 3-1. CYA added one more late goal to make
the final 4-1, though a much closer game than the score indicated. It was a
great effort by TI, against the heavily favored and more experienced CYA
girls, who are headed to the Central District finals.
While the season had its ups and downs, the effort put forth by the team in
the State Round Robin and State Tournament ended the season on a high note
with performances for which they can be proud.
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