2003 10U State Finalist

Team Members: 
Laura Brennan, Mary Debartolo, Kelsey Dupuis, Kathleen Fitzgerald, Kelly Galiniak, Tala Gallaga, Julie Gunnerson, Katelyn Hodgman, Jessica Howerton, Kelly Lahr, Mariah Miller, Frankie Morey, Becky Stevens, Samantha Weesner, Jessica Wienand  
Head Coach: Jason Piwko 
Assistant Coach: Keith Mellen 
Manager: Denise Wienand 

The U10 team's hard work earned them the number 2 seed in the State Tournament and a bye in the first round of the play-offs. On February 23rd, the girls embarked on their journey for the State title in which they would play an intense match against last year's State Champions, the Wilmette Braves. The TI girls were prepared to avenge last season's loss. 

The team's previous matches against Wilmette set the tone for this play-off contest. All appointments with manicurists were cancelled after this nail-biter. TI wasted no time putting up the a tally on the board as Kelly Lahr paved the way to victory with a little help from Sammi Weesner. With just under five minutes left in the 1st period, Sammi laid the foundation work down with a nice pass and Kelly slapped it into the net. The lone goal was all TI needed to advance to the next round. 

Julie Gunnerson did her best impression of a brick wall as she stonewalled the Braves for three periods. And TI's defense showed no signs of crumbling as the girls kept the puck in the Braves' zone for virtually the entire third period. With the help of her new best friends, Left Post and Right Post, the Wilmette goalie managed to stop TI's offense from building up their one goal lead. Next up, the Arctic Lady Senators for the State Championship.

The Girls State Championship was everything it's hyped up to be. The team got a taste of "the Big Show" when they entered the rink on March 1st. They were treated like celebrities. Even the coaches got into the act with Keith wearing a tie!! As a first timer at one of these shindigs, I have to admit that I was a little overwhelmed. 

With less than an hour away before the Big game, the team, coaches and team manager were whisked away to the locker rooms under security escort. (Okay, so that part is made up...but it sounded exciting, didn't it?) Coaches Jason and Keith did their best to prepare the team for this showdown and were confident that whatever the outcome, the girls would play like Champs. And that they did. 

After the spotlight introductions at center ice, the puck was dropped and the Big Game started. TI's anxiousness showed as the Lady Senators scored first with only 45 seconds into the first period. TI trailed 3-0 at the end of the period after Orland Park scored two more. It was obvious that the girls were nervous in their first appearance at a State Championship game but the coaches did a fine job of calming the girls down.

It was evident in the girls second period performance that they were determined to play their game as they shut out the lady Senators for the next twelve minutes. Julie, tending goal for TI again, made some spectacular saves. As it had been all season long, defense held Orland Park's sharp shooters at bay. Though the score was 3-0, it did not reflect the real game as TI's offense provided their spectators with some exciting scoring chances. I heard more shots "ding" off the posts than at Al's Diner! Unfortunately, Lady Luck was not skating on the ice with TI that day. The score remained 3-0 at the end of the second.

Behind by only three goals, TI would not be deterred from their quest for the State Cup. They came off the bench with a renewed sense of faith that the game was still within their reach. After all, this is play-off hockey and everyone knows that anything can happen! Despite their efforts, the girls came up short and were defeated. The Lady Senators added two more late goals to make the final score 5-0.

Undoubtedly, the U10 team played hard and deserved a better fate! They will always be Champions in our eyes.