Tough Loss for the Martlets

First Girls’ Hockey made the trip up to St. Mark’s Dec. 4 for the first game of the season. Physical and fast-paced from the beginning, the Martlets worked to find their rhythm. Despite some good team play in the offensive end, the team went down 2-0 by half-way through the second period. Ever resilient, the girls looked to each other to climb their way back in. Dynamic defensive play by Sam DeLeo ’21 helped generate some offense as all the forwards clamored to get to the net. Finally, with just two minutes left in the second, Megan Rittenhouse ’20 broke free and entered the zone beating the defenseman and finding herself one-on-one with the goalie. Rittenhouse shot the puck top corner to get the Martlets on the board. The start of the third period belonged solely to Westminster as the team cut off breakout passes and maintained possession of the puck in the offensive end. In an incredible one-on-one battle to break the puck out, Hailey Tullo ’22 out muscled her opponent down the ice and shot the puck far corner to tie the game at 2-2 with nine minutes left. From there, Westminster had incredible chances as it hit posts and sent tips just wide of the net. Goalie Mandy Busky ’21 worked hard to keep her team within reach of the win. Unfortunately, a penalty resulted from a battle in the corner and St. Mark’s was able to pull away with a power play goal with just one minute left. Westminster did not get the result it wanted, but the team demonstrated a level of grit and commitment that will certainly serve it well in the season ahead.