Week 5: WA shutout by Mercy Co-Op

The Woodstock Academy girls hockey team had some chances against the Mercy cooperative team on Saturday at the Jahn Ice Rink at the Pomfret School.

They just weren’t challenging enough.

“We were putting the puck on net, but nothing really dangerous,” Woodstock Academy coach Eric Roy said. “The shots are there, the danger areas will come after that.”

The puck never found the back of the net for the Centaurs while the Tigers managed to sneak just a couple past Woodstock Academy senior goalie Elizabeth Morgis for the 2-0 victory.

The loss dropped the Centaurs to 3-6-1 overall and 3-4 against Connecticut teams.

The Woodstock Academy cooperative, in its first season in the Connecticut Girls High School Hockey Association, would like to finish in the top 12 to qualify for the state playoffs.

A win over the Tigers would have helped in that endeavor.

“I had this circled as a big game to help us toward the playoffs, but luckily, there are still eight more,” Roy said.

Mercy peppered the Woodstock Academy goal in the first period, taking 16 shots at Morgis, but only one got through.

Senior center Gianna Low took a rebound off a shot from Alex Martin and stuffed it past Morgis to give the Tigers the lead 5 minutes, 54 seconds into the game.

The Centaurs did rebound a bit in the second period when they took 11 shots at Mecy goalie Alexa Laing (16 saves).

“We’re getting the puck into the dirty areas but, sometimes in hockey, the luck doesn’t hit you. That’s basically what is going on right now. We’re playing solid hockey, we’re just not finishing,” Roy said.

Martin, off an assist from Leilani Duong-Vasquez, added an insurance goal for Mercy with 4:32 to play in the game.

“They were all over us, they had some skilled players. They have a similar style to us, defensive-minded, but with skilled players who can rifle shots in. it was an even match,” Roy said.

Morgis who just learned hours before that she was the Eastern Connecticut Conference girls Athlete of the Week, made 26 saves in net for the Centaurs.

“She’s been huge all season,” Roy said. “We know we’re in every game because we have her back there.”

The Centaurs played a game earlier in the week and only found the net once in Rhode Island.

Burrillville handed the Centaurs a 5-1 defeat.

Woodstock Academy freshman Maci Corradi scored her ninth goal of the season. Mia Williamson and Caitlyn Flynn assisted on the goal for the Centaurs.