TI 10U's Coming Soon to a Rink Near You

Spectators got a glimpse of the 10U's 2003-2004 season on September 22nd when the girls hosted the Wilmette boys at Seven Bridges in their first game of the tiering round. Keith Mellen returned to coach with nine veterans: Julie Gunnerson, Katie Fitzgerald, Laura Brennan, Tala Gallaga, Mary DeBartolo, Katelyn Hodgman, Frankie Morey, Kelsey Dupuis and Sammi Weesner. Joining Keith behind the bench is Frank Silk who we think was separated from Keith at birth and six new teammates: Halley Baker, Randi Fabsits, Alex Kreuser, Christina Letmanski, Dana Markee, Kelly Micholson and Kami Weiner. 

After a scoreless first period, TI put their first tally of the season up on the board thanks to Sammi Weesner. She was assisted by Laura Brennan. Wilmette answered with a goal of their own to tie it up at one. A quick second goal put Wilmette in the lead but TI answered with one to even the score. All by her lonesome self, Katelyn Hodgman lifted the puck effortlessly over the right shoulder of Wilmette's goaltender. Wilmette would score two more before the second period ended. The boys went on to add three more goals in the third period for a final score of 7 - 2. 

Still stinging from the previous day's loss, the 10Us traveled over to Darien to face the Huskies. Again, the first period ended with a scoreless tie. And like the night before, TI put the biscuit in the basket first when Tala Gallaga scored unassisted. The defense tightened up and would not allow the Huskies to challenge Katie Fitzgerald in net for TI. The lone goal held up halfway through the third period until the Huskies scored two quick goals and just like that, took the lead. What had previously looked like a sure win for the girls, now seemed like a potential heartbreaker. However, TI would not allow a great defensively played game go to waste. With 45 seconds left in the game, Julie Gunnerson poked one through to tie the game at 2. Assisting her on the play were Hodgy and Christina Letmanski. 

After quieting the barking Huskies, the girls were ready to pluck the feathers off the Falcons the next night. Starting a trend, TI pushed the puck across the goal line first when Hodgy's patented shot went high over the goalie's shoulder and found the back of the net. Defense played well again but could not stop the next two goals by the Falcons. TI's efforts to tie the game fell short even after they pulled the goalie and had six shooters on the ice. Tough loss. 

The 10Us traveled on a Saturday morning to Lake Forest Academy to play a practice game against the Wilmette girls. Unfortunately for Wilmette, TI decided to take their frustrations out on them. It didn't take long for target practice to begin as Tala shot one in; followed by Hodgy and Kelly Micholson. No help was necessary for the first three goals. Hodgy finished the second period with her second goal of the game assisted by Alex Kreuser. Leading four zip into the second, Frankie Morey decided to test her backhand shot after Laura fed the puck up to her across the blue line. Christina decided to join the scoring barrage and tapped a pretty tic-tac-toe pass from Alex and Hodgy. Wilmette would score one goal before the period ended. Sammi Weesner would add some more salt to Wilmette's wounds with a goal of her own assisted by Kelsey Dupuis and Halley Baker. Wilmette would add one more to make the final score 8 - 2. 

No one could scientifically explain the next game against the Atoms when a fluky goal bounced up and over Katie Fitz's head and made it's way across the goal line in the first period. That one goal would stand for the game. Although the girls stayed positive throughout the remaining two periods, the outcome was negative. Another heartbreaker. 

The girls bounced back the next night and put in another defensively stellar performance. Julie Gunnerson played between the pipes for TI and proved that it's possible to defy gravity. After witnessing Julie make spectacular saves in the first period and keeping the game scoreless, the offense decided to steal the spotlight for a few minutes. Christina gave TI the lead when she rifled a pass from Mary DeBartolo past Crystal Lake's netminder. Mary thought that was fun, so she duplicated the goal with some help from Katelyn. After that, defense and Julie took over. The Leafs fell 2-0 giving TI their first NIHL win. 

The Blues proved to be a killjoy in the next game as TI could not find their rhythm. The only high note came at the end of the first period when Kami Weiner scored her first TI goal. Helping her out on that shift was Sammi. Sadly, the Blues scored two in the first period and one goal in each of the last two periods to win by a final of 4 -1. 

A few days later, TI picked their chins up and faced Northbrook at Seven Bridges. The girls wasted no time getting on the board. Kelsey buried a pass from Sammi to make the score 1 -0. Shortly thereafter, Frankie muscled the puck in to make it a two goal lead for TI. The MGM line (Markee Gallaga Morey) was all Vegas that night. Dana Markee hit the posts several times and had one shot ping-ping-ping rickashee in and out so quickly that the referees claimed it never went in! At the end of one, the score was only 2-0 in favor of TI. Sammi would shoot and score in the second period with some help from Kelsey. Julie would cap off the game with a shorthanded goal in the third. Though the MGM line had a great night, the star of the game was Katie Fitz. She earned her spot with the local bricklayers union as she masterfully laid a brick wall in front of the net and shut out Northbrook. 

The last game of the tiering round took place in Winnetka. The Warriors quickly took the lead in the first with three goals. Halley Baker cut the lead by one when she scored unassisted in the second period. It was de ja vue in the third as Halley scored TI's second and final goal of the evening. Winnetka scored three more before the buzzer sounded to make the final score 6-2. 

Now that we've seen previews of the season to come, make your trip to the concession stand, find yourself a seat and then sit back and watch. The main feature will begin November 1st and it promises to be action packed. Drop the puck!