The Hall/Conard girls hockey team hosted Woodstock Academy Monday night at Veterans Memorial Rink in West Hartford.

Goalie Lauren Busi looks through traffic in front of her net. Hall/Conard vs. Woodstock Academy girls hockey. Dec. 11, 2023. Photo credit: Paul Palmer

By Paul Palmer

With a lineup that has just four seniors, coach Paul Stone knows it will be a total team effort this season, and the underclassmen will have to contribute – and so far this season things are going according to plan as the Hall/Conard girls ice hockey team won its third game of the season with a 2-0 shutout of the Woodstock Academy COOP on Monday night.

“The freshman girls coming in this year are a year or two ahead of where I thought they’d be,” said Stone.

Against Woodstock, freshman goalie Lauren Busi stopped all 24 shots she faced, freshman Paige Sweeney scored one goal, and sophomore Claire Reidel scored the other in the win.

Paige Sweeney scored one of Hall/Conard’s two goals in the win over Woodstock Academy. Hall/Conard vs. Woodstock Academy girls hockey. Dec. 11, 2023. Photo credit: Paul Palmer

The first period was a rather lackluster 15 minutes with neither team really taking control. In the second, play opened up and so did the penalty box doors to allow for a freer flowing game. The hosts had the first power play and Avery Salsted nearly opened the scoring with a one timer that was stopped by Renee Porter. A few minutes later Hall/Conard had another good chance when Porter was out of position as the puck rebounded off the backboards in front of the open goal, but Hall/Conard could not take advantage.

Woodstock would have some of its best offense after Avery Wolfe was whistled off for roughing. The Centaurs controlled the puck and the zone time but could not get past the defense and get any strong chances on Busi.

Claire Reidel (16) celebrates her goal with teammates. Hall/Conard vs. Woodstock Academy girls hockey. Dec. 11, 2023. Photo credit: Paul Palmer

As the power play was ending, Woodstock took a penalty of its own, and it was Hall/Conard’s chance to get the first goal. Otto had a good chance blocked away by Porter on the best opportunity on the advantage. Hall/Conard came close again with 4:15 to go when a loose rebound slid between the skates of Mia Longman in tight, but she could not get a blade on the puck and it rolled away.

The two teams exchanged penalties with just under 3 minutes to go in the second, and while playing 4-on-4 the hosts struck first. Junior Quinn Bacon worked into the slot and her backhand went wide, but she chased down the puck and fed Otto, and her wrister hit the twine with 1:27 to play.

Busi would make two of her better saves in the game when she made the first save on a bad angle shot from her left, and then covered the rebound with Woodstock players closing in on the net. When it looked like the period would end 1-0, it was Sweeney who scored while sitting on the ice. She was banging at a loose puck on the side of the net and went down but managed to poke it in with just 12.2 seconds to go for the 2-0 lead.

Quinn Bacon (3) and Paige Sweeney (5) battle for the puck along the boards. Hall/Conard vs. Woodstock Academy girls hockey. Dec. 11, 2023. Photo credit: Paul Palmer

In the third period, it was the two goalies – Busi and Porter – working hard and facing some of the most prolonged periods of attacks. One of Busi’s best came on a save on a 3-on-1 Woodstock attack.

“She continues to impress with how she has the perfect angles and is aggressive to the puck,” Stone said of his freshman netminder. At the other end of the ice, Porter turned in a stellar block save when Fiona Campbell  let a shot go from the slot off a Centaurs’ turnover.

Hall/Conard took a pair of late penalties that overlapped, and with under 2:00 to play, Woodstock pulled Porter from the goal for a 6-on-4 advantage, but they could not convert.

“We have a good mix of players,” said Stone of his roster. “They understand what we are trying to do here and it all filters down from the upperclassmen.”

Hall/Conard is back on the ice Wednesday when they host East Catholic at Veterans Memorial Ice Rink.

Head coach Paul Stone talks strategy with his team between periods. Hall/Conard vs. Woodstock Academy girls hockey. Dec. 11, 2023. Photo credit: Paul Palmer

Avery Salstad pulls up behind the Woodstock net. Hall/Conard vs. Woodstock Academy girls hockey. Dec. 11, 2023. Photo credit: Paul Palmer

Fiona Campbell looks for options from the point. Hall/Conard vs. Woodstock Academy girls hockey. Dec. 11, 2023. Photo credit: Paul Palmer

Paige Sweeney is focused as she readies for the faceoff. Hall/Conard vs. Woodstock Academy girls hockey. Dec. 11, 2023. Photo credit: Paul Palmer

Avery Salstad (8) and teammate Quinn Bacon (3) work along the offensive boards. Hall/Conard vs. Woodstock Academy girls hockey. Dec. 11, 2023. Photo credit: Paul Palmer

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