Martlets Fall to Trojans

The Seconds welcomed local rival Simsbury High School to Jackson Rink for what is always a spirited contest. Unfortunately, the home side – playing its fifth game in seven days – could not match the visitors' intensity. The relative youth and inexperience of the team this year was exposed a bit by the older, more assertive Trojans. Moving forward, the team will have to double-down on those things it can control: its work rate, its commitment to the defensive side of the game and its grit in winning small battles all over the ice. Too often, Simsbury was able to come out of a scrum with the puck or breakdowns in coverage gave the visitors chances that they took full advantage of. This was especially true towards the end of the second period and into the third, when tired legs and a loss of focus led to four Simsbury goals. Overall, the score does not fully reflect how the game unfolded as the Martlets had their share of opportunities but the team was thwarted by the capable Simsbury keeper or just couldn't get the puck into the net. The Black and Gold's only goal came on a power play when Keegan Bankoff '22 collected a puck off the near wall and fired a low snap shot on the Simsbury net, where Oscar Ball '22 and Newt Cutler '22 banged away at it until finally forcing it past a swarm of Simsbury defensemen and their goalie. This is the kind of goal this team is going to have to score more of this year if it's going to compete: scrappy, hard-working, ugly goals. Deserving mention for their solid play on the night are defensemen Nate Stevens '21, Rex Flinn '21 and Jack Rockefeller '23; the forward line of Will Rizzo '21, Xander Cardia '21 and David Harris '21 also worked hard and responded to Simsbury's physical play, getting better as the game wore on. Goalies Will Scott '20 and Rich Mugler '22 split the game and played well, each making some impressive saves – and both deserve a better defensive effort from their teammates. Looking ahead – and the team hops on a bus for Northfield Mount Hermon this afternoon for their sixth game in eight days – everyone on the team needs to embrace its identity and play accordingly. Westminster will flat out need to outwork teams all over the rink and take pride in our willingness to keep the game simple and do the hard work for three full periods.