2003 12U#1 State Champions

Team Members: 
Kari Asick, Erin Bradarich, Jaclyn Camardo, Nicole Camardo, Lauren Davis, Sydni Espey, Casie Fields, Paige Hoppie, Aleca Hughes, Lauren Jones, Kristi McKee, Lindsay Newman, Jacquelyn Otto, Jessica Puig, Kathy Shei, Kelly Wallace, Hayley Williams 
Head Coach: Bill Martin 
Assistant Coach: Margaret Dumiak 
Manager: Tammy Hoppie 

The first playoff game against Fox Valley ended with a 13-0 score. Syd Espey earned a shut out, and Aleca Hughes scored a hat trick! Paige Hoppie and Kelly Wallace each knocked in two goals apiece. Hayley Williams, Jackie Camardo, Erin Bradarich, Lauren Davis, Jackie Otto and Casie Fields all were good for a goal apiece. Nicole Camardo was a team player, passing the puck at key times. 

The second playoff game was against the Crystal Lake Leafs. They were raked 10-0. Kristi McKee shut out the Leafs. Kelly Wallace and Hayley Williams both scored hat tricks! Lauren Jones, Hughes, Camardo, and Hoppie all contributed goals. Fields and Lindsay Newman assisted their teammates on numerous goals. 

As the Girls 12 & Under Illinois State Tournament progressed, it quickly became apparent that it would be a rematch of Chicago Young Americans and Team Illinois Majors. These two teams had met earlier in the year in a game that featured very stingy defense from both teams. 

Following the normal pre-game pageantry, both teams started the game testing strategy and looking for possible openings. As in the previous meeting of the two teams, the first period was a fierce defensive battle. Neither team could sustain any offensive drives that threatened to score. However this defensive struggle was to quickly and radically change. 

The initial face-off in the second period was controlled by TI’s front line of Kelly Wallace, Aleca Hughes and Hayley Williams, as TI took the puck deep into the CYA zone. A quick exchange of passes between center, Wallace, and left wing, Hughes, left Wallace open for a shot and goal with only 22 seconds expiring. From this point forward, the tone of the game changed dramatically. Exceptional defense and back checking by every TI line throttled CYA’s offense to only 2 shots on net for the period. TI’s puck control kept constant pressure on CYA’s defense. TI’s front line of Wallace, Hughes, and Williams again scored when Wallace assisted Hughes’ quick wrist shot from top of the left circle. The next score came with TI’s offensive line of Lauren Jones, Jessica Puig, and Kathy Shei and defensive line of Kari Asick and Erin Bradarich controlling the puck in the CYA zone. A shot from defenseman Bradarich bounced straight from the backboards to left wing Puig who swiftly put the puck into the net. As the second period came to a close, TI’s lead of 3 –0 seemed overwhelming when one considered the excellent play of defensemen Asick, Bradarich, Lauren Davis, Casie Fields, Lindsay Newman, and Jackie Otto. 

As the third period began, the momentum of the game had clearly swung to TI favor. CYA tried in vain to penetrate the TI defense only to be denied. TI strategy was clear in the third period to wear down CYA with speed and strength. TI’s offensive line of Paige Hoppie, Nicole Camardo and Jackie Camardo showed great determination and strength time after time in keeping the puck out of the TI zone. As the period progressed the Wallace, Hughes, and Williams line took advantage of their speed with Williams and then Wallace placing the disc between the pipes. Both of TI’s goalies, Sydni Espey and Kristi McKee, saw action with Espey depriving CYA of all five shots on goal. The team’s state victory and overall winning season is a credit to head coach Bill Martin and assistant coach Margaret Dumiak. 

With the post game ceremony completed, the two clearly exhausted teams exchanged handshakes. On March 1, the 2002-2003 Girls 12 & Under State Champion was determined. While CYA’s gallant effort fell short on this early Saturday morning, both teams were a prime example of two well-coached and talented girl hockey teams. Both teams are a credit to Illinois girls hockey and an exceptional example of the great sportsmanship.