The 19U Girls came into October knowing that they would have to overcome serious obstacles during the month. A succession of weddings, funerals, ACT tests, and multiple homecoming dances required the team to play in two MWEHL showcase weekends with a number of players absent.
The month began with the Detroit showcase. The first game against the Washington Pride was a close 2-1 loss. Kerry Mullins recorded TI’s only goal, and Ryann McCarthy’s goaltending kept things close, but the absence of Cassy Stoner, Katie Osikowicz, and Jillian Kirchner was too much to overcome.
Saturday morning brought a game against Capitol Centre Pride. Once again, with a short bench, the team tired in the third period of a 5-2 loss. Francie Steger and Jillian Korbas scored for TI, and Alexi Bloom’s goaltending kept the game close despite numerous breakaway chances.
Saturday night proved to be the biggest challenge of the weekend, as Emily Sherman and Andrea Fuwa went home for their homecoming dance. With the absence of 4 of their top five scorers, and the opponent being Honeybaked, things did not bode well for TI. The girls were out-shot 48-5 in a 7-0 loss.
The weekend concluded with a game against Colorado Select, who had won all four of their previous league games. Despite all the energy spent trying to compete with a short bench, this game turned out to be TI’s best. Courtney Bean and Ingrid Klockars scored, and Alexi Bloom stopped 34 of 37 shots. TI had a chance to tie the game late, but a quality scoring chance resulted in a puck off the crossbar, and Colorado prevailed 3-2.
The following weekend, TI played two practice games against Team Wisconsin. Once again, TI would be short-handed due to ACT testing, and the result was a 3-2 loss and a 1-1 tie.
The following weekend brought another MWEHL showcase in Kenosha. In game one against the Minnesota Thoroughbreds, TI was hurt by three power play goals in the first period. Despite two goals by Kirchner and one by Mullins, TI lost 5-3. In game two, TI was again victimized by penalties, giving up two goals to Ohio Flames in the first period. Bloom shut the door in the second and third periods, stopping 20 out of 22 Ohio shots, and an Emily Sherman goal gave the girls a chance, but the final score ended up 2-1.
Things brightened considerably for TI on Sunday. For the first time in league play, all hands were on deck. The results were a 4-1 victory over Ohio Flames and a 3-2 win over Victory Honda. The scoring was led by Sherman (2 goals), Kirchner, Osikowicz, Mullins, Misty Pirus, and Steger. McCarthy and Bloom were again strong in net.
The month would end in Concord, MA at the Assabet Valley tournament. TI’s first opponent was the Assabet 19U majors, a perennial national power featuring former TI goalie Molly Schaus. TI hung in with great goaltending by Bloom, but Assabet prevailed 3-0.
Saturday morning brought a game against Assabet’s 19U minor team. In a see-saw battle, TI prevailed 3-2 to keep their hopes alive. Goals were scored by Kirchner, Cassie Stoner, and Osikowicz, and McCarthy kept the final margin alive with many late stops.
Saturday night featured a game against the North American Hockey Academy. NAHA had already beaten Assabet Major, so TI knew they would have their work cut out for themselves. NAHA was swarming, putting 15 shots on Bloom in the first period; however their only goal came on a penalty shot late in the first. TI answered back two minutes later on a short-angle shot by Sherman. Bloom stopped 17 more shots in the scoreless second period, but NAHA capitalized on another breakaway and a late 2 on 1 to notch two goals in the third period to make the final margin 3-1.
