Clinton – In the first period of Friday’s girls ice hockey game, Clinton held just a 6-4 edge in shots on goal and a 2-0 edge in scoring. At the end of the second period the hosts were being outshot 16-13 by St. Lawrence yet stretched the lead to 7-1.
Great passing and even better shooting proved to be the difference and Coach Nicole Ruddy’s squad cruised from there to a 7-1 victory in the January 15 intersectional showdown against the Larries from Section X.
“I think we were overall stronger and more skilled,” Ruddy said afterward. “They were moving their feet and passing well.”
Clinton’s Anna Buehler fires a shot, which put the Warriors up 2-0 (Photo By – Jeff Pexton – Perfect Game Imaging)
Clinton didn’t dominate at the start, though. It was an even game until the midpoint of the opening stanza. Hannah Cooke had a good shot go just wide and teammate Christina D’Ambro had a shot stopped to open up Clinton’s offense then Kerrigan Rondeau had two shots on goal for SL that Clinton goalie Ryann Stripp saved.
Anna Buehler had the hosts’ best chance in the early going when a shot from a tough angle caromed off the post. Seconds later Addy Barr was whistled for interference and Clinton had to kill off a penalty. The defense did not allow a shot and shortly after returning to full strength the hosts went up. Claire Wiley scored with 3:28 to play in the first period to give Clinton (4-4-2) a lead it would not lose.
Less than a minute later, Claire Wiley made it 2-0 for the hosts off an assist by Bella Facciolo.
Sophie Goris of Clinton finds open ice during a first period rush. (Photo By – Jeff Pexton – Perfect Game Imaging)
The second period started off much better for Clinton. Just eight seconds into play, Hannah Cooke scored. The sophomore finished a perfect play from the faceoff, and Christina D’Ambro and Stephanie Husnay earned the assists. Madeline DeRouchie had a good chance moments later to get SL in the scoring column, but Barr defended her well to deny a shot on goal. That set up a flurry of goals by the hosts that iced the outcome. Bella Ruddy scored within two minutes of Cooke’s tally and less than two minutes later Alana Phillips scored. Frankie Bartolomie set the play up with a hard shot that SL goalie Eliza Sullivan stopped but couldn’t hold onto. Phillips quickly knocked in the rebound for a 5-0 edge.
D’Ambro scored her lone goal on a nice backhanded shot just 1:06 after the Phillips goal.
Christina D’Ambro (6) escapes defensive pressure en route to a first period goal for Clinton. (Photo By Jeff Pexton – Perfect Game Imaging)
The Larries avoided being shut out by scoring a great goal midway in the second period. Abigail Lyon and Courtney Boyea set up Riley Barton for a goal from close range.
Less than a minute later Clinton scored its last goal. Wiley put the rebound of her shot past Sullivan.
“We still could have been even better,” Ruddy said afterward.
Ryann Stripp shows perfect form in stopping one of her 26 saves on the evening. (Photo By Jeff Pexton – Perfect Game Imaging)
The third period saw few good chances to score by either team. Clinton goalie Ryann Stripp stopped the toughest shots, one apiece by SL’s St. Ann and Rondeau.
Clinton hopes to secure the No. 3 seed for playoffs. That’s where Ruddy’s team sits in the standings with two games remaining in the regular season.
St. Lawrence 0 1 0 – 1
Clinton 2 5 0 – 7
St. Lawrence (2-11): Riley Barton 1-0, Abigail Lyon 0-1, Courtney Boyea 0-1. Saves – Eliza Sullivan 13.
Clinton (4-4-2): Anna Buehler 1-0, Alana Phillips 1-1, Claire Wiley 2-0, Bella Facciolo 0-2, Hannah Cooke 1-0, Christina D’Ambro 1-1, Stephanie Husnay 0-1, Bella Ruddy 1-0, Devyn Farrell 0-1, Frankie Bartolomie 0-1, Sarah Dziegiel 0-1. Saves – Ryann Stripp 26
